Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Jennifer Connolly is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and behavioral health, whose work has significantly advanced the use of social robots as therapeutic and health promotion agents. Her research explores how humanoid robots can deliver personalized interventions targeting critical lifestyle behaviors, including diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and mental wellbeing. Connolly's most influential contribution, a pilot randomized controlled trial examining social robots as behavior change agents (2020, 62 citations), demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of robots as low-intensity health coaches — a finding that has shaped subsequent work in the field. Building on this, she has investigated robot-delivered diabetes management programs in clinical settings and developed reliable measures of user incentives and confidence in robot interaction, providing essential psychometric tools for the research community. Her 2021 health clinic trial extended this work by demonstrating that robots could deliver tailored, personalized feedback across multiple health domains simultaneously. Most recently, Connolly has broken new ground by applying social robotics to mental wellbeing training, reflecting her commitment to expanding accessible, scalable health support. With over 125 cumulative citations, her body of work positions her as a leading voice in robot-assisted health intervention research.