Isha Kharub

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Isha Kharub is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focus on deploying social robots in public and service-oriented contexts. Her work centers on understanding how embodied robotic agents can effectively engage with humans, particularly in libraries, healthcare, and commercial settings. Kharub’s major contributions include the application of the SERVBOT framework to measure perceived service quality in HRI, adapting traditional service quality dimensions to robotic interactions—a novel approach that bridges service science and robotics. Her most-cited paper, “Pepper in the Library: Students' First Impressions” (2020, 16 citations), provides foundational insights into the deployment of humanoid robots in Australian public spaces, highlighting the role of embodied features and interactivity. Another influential study, “Perceived Service Quality in HRI” (2021, 15 citations), extends the SERVQUAL model to robotics, offering a validated tool for evaluating robot-delivered services. Kharub’s exploratory work on robot-enacted messages to reduce high-sugar energy drink consumption (2022, 7 citations) demonstrates her innovative use of social robots for health behavior change, testing guilt, humor, and non-emotional appeals. Her research is notable for its practical implications, advancing the design of socially acceptable and effective service robots in real-world environments.