Melanie Lim

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About

Dr. Melanie Lim is a leading researcher in human-robot interaction, with a particular focus on the nonverbal dynamics that make robotic collaboration feel intuitive and natural. Her most-cited work, "Robot Gaze Behaviors in Human-to-Robot Handovers" (2020, 27 citations), broke new ground by shifting the lens from robots as givers to robots as receivers—a perspective largely overlooked in prior studies. Through meticulous frame-by-frame video analysis of human-human interactions, Lim identified critical gaze patterns that enable smoother, more predictable handovers. This contribution has become foundational for designing robots that can fluidly collaborate with humans in shared tasks, from manufacturing to assistive care. Her research underscores the importance of subtle social cues in building trust and efficiency, earning her recognition as a rising voice in socially-aware robotics. Lim’s work not only advances technical design but also deepens our understanding of how humans instinctively coordinate with machines, making her a key figure in bridging the gap between robotic functionality and human expectation.