Julia Darboven

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Julia Darboven’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and social robotics, with a particular focus on how non-verbal cues shape trust, cooperation, and user experience. Her most cited work, “The Role of Perceived Eye Contact in Helping Robots” (2024), investigates how a robot’s gaze behavior influences a person’s willingness to assist it—a foundational question for designing more intuitive and socially aware machines. Through controlled lab studies, Darboven demonstrates that perceived eye contact significantly enhances human cooperation, even when the robot’s gaze is simulated. This contribution is critical as robots increasingly enter homes, workplaces, and public spaces, where seamless social interaction is key to acceptance. While her citation count is still growing, her work is already informing broader discussions in affective computing and embodied AI. Darboven’s research offers practical insights for engineers and designers aiming to build robots that communicate naturally, and her findings have implications for assistive robotics, education, and collaborative manufacturing. As the field of HRI matures, Darboven’s focus on subtle, human-like cues positions her as a rising voice in making technology feel less mechanical and more relational.