Maria Fellner
Papers
9
Total Citations
104
H-Index
5
About
Maria Fellner is a pioneering researcher specializing in socially assistive robotics (SARs), dementia care, and the psychosocial dimensions of human-technology interaction. Her work centers on harnessing humanoid robots — most notably the Pepper robot through the innovative AMIGO project — to support people with dementia and their informal caregivers in home settings, moving research meaningfully beyond laboratory constraints. Fellner's most influential contribution, a 2019 mixed-methods study protocol examining robot versus tablet-based training for persons with dementia, has garnered 35 citations, establishing her as a leading voice in evidence-based SAR research. Her qualitative investigations into caregiver and dementia trainer expectations (23 citations) have been instrumental in grounding technological development in real-world human needs. Through randomized controlled trials and mixed-methods designs, she has rigorously assessed how humanoid robots affect caregiver burden, psychosocial wellbeing, and patient outcomes. More recently, Fellner has expanded her focus to gender-sensitive robotic interventions for depression-related cognitive decline through the AMIGA project, demonstrating her commitment to inclusive, personalized care technologies. With a growing body of work spanning clinical trials, qualitative inquiry, and applied robotics design, Fellner's research is shaping how healthcare systems worldwide might deploy intelligent assistive technologies to address the escalating global dementia crisis.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3AMIGO17 citations · 2018
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