Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Nina Dalkner is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of psychiatry and robotics, whose work is reshaping mental health treatment through socially assistive technology. Her primary research areas include the application of social robots in adult psychiatry, gender-sensitive cognitive training for depression, and bio-signal-driven human-robot interaction. Dalkner’s major contributions lie in demonstrating how socially assistive robots can motivate patients with depression to engage in cognitive training, addressing both the cognitive deficits and motivational barriers that often accompany the condition. Her 2023 paper, "Robotics in psychiatry – Fiction or reality?" and her 2025 study on "Social robots in adult psychiatry" (each with 3 citations) provide foundational frameworks for integrating robots into clinical settings, while her work on the Austrian AMIGA project introduces innovative, gender-sensitive approaches to therapy. Notably, her 2025 study on bio-signal driven pause management represents a leap forward in adaptive, patient-centered robotic interventions. With over 8 citations across her most-cited works, Dalkner is advancing a future where robots serve as empathetic, customizable tools to combat staffing shortages and enhance psychiatric care—making her a key voice in the emerging field of robotic psychiatry.