Julian Waksberg

Reichman University, Herzliya Medical Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Julian Waksberg is a rising scholar at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), biological prototyping, and human-robot interaction (HRI). His work is defined by a dual commitment to empowering hands-on bio-experimentation and understanding the subtle social dynamics that govern our encounters with robots. Waksberg’s most impactful contribution is **OpenLH** (2019), an open-source liquid handling system that democratizes biological prototyping. With 48 citations, this tool enables HCI researchers, designers, and bio-enthusiasts to conduct precise, repetitive experiments with live organisms, effectively lowering the barrier to entry for biological exploration in design contexts. In parallel, Waksberg is shaping the future of HRI. His 2024 study, "The Power of Opening Encounters in HRI," demonstrates that a robot’s initial behavior—much like in human psychology—profoundly shapes the entire subsequent interaction. His most recent work (2025) explores how a robot’s physical height influences human compliance, extending classic social dynamics into the robotic domain. Through these contributions, Waksberg is not only building the tools for biological design but also decoding the fundamental social cues that make human-robot interaction feel natural and effective.