Lotus Zhang

University of British Columbia, University of Washington

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Lotus Zhang is a researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and adolescent mental health, exploring how social robots can serve as emotionally supportive tools. Her work critically examines the design tensions in robot-mediated social-emotional support, particularly for teens in school settings. Zhang’s most cited paper, “Is it Happy?” (2018, 26 citations), investigates the challenge of conveying emotional valence through a robot’s physical display—a fundamental problem in HRI that has implications for creating more empathetic and believable robotic companions. Her more recent study, “Public Versus Private: How Teens Perceived Teen-Robot Interactions in a School Setting” (2022, 3 citations), reveals a key design tension: teens desire both the public visibility of interacting with a robot and the privacy needed for vulnerable self-disclosure. This work highlights the nuanced social dynamics that must be addressed when deploying robots in real-world educational environments. Zhang’s contributions are notable for grounding HRI design in the lived experiences of young users, moving beyond technical feasibility toward ethical, user-centered applications. Her research is essential reading for anyone interested in designing socially intelligent robots that truly support human well-being.