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About

Jeanie Chan is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive health, with a particular focus on socially assistive robots designed to support individuals with cognitive impairments. Working primarily out of the University of Toronto's Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Chan has dedicated her research to exploring how intelligent robotic systems can make cognitive training interventions more accessible, scalable, and effective for aging populations at risk of dementia. Her most influential work, "Social Intelligence for a Robot Engaging People in Cognitive Training Activities" (2012, 52 citations), exemplifies her central contribution: developing robots capable of sustaining meaningful human engagement during cognitively stimulating activities. Across a series of papers spanning 2010 to 2012, she advanced learning-based control architectures, person-centered design principles, and stress-minimizing interaction strategies for assistive robots — accumulating over 125 citations in total. Notably, her research extended into practical settings such as meal-time interventions, demonstrating a commitment to real-world applicability. Chan's work is especially significant given the global rise in dementia cases, offering a compelling non-pharmacological alternative that harnesses robotics to preserve cognitive function and enhance quality of life for vulnerable populations.