Rhea Paul

Sacred Heart University, Yale University

Papers

Total Citations

586

H-Index

About

Rhea Paul is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI) and autism intervention, whose work has fundamentally shaped how social robots are used to support individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Her most influential contribution, "Social Robots as Embedded Reinforcers of Social Behavior in Children with Autism," has garnered over 450 citations, demonstrating how robots can serve as powerful, natural reinforcers to elicit and sustain social engagement in children with ASD—a breakthrough that bridges engineering and clinical practice. In her equally impactful 2012 paper, "Bridging the Research Gap: Making HRI Useful to Individuals with Autism," Paul critically examines why many robotic interventions fail to translate into clinical settings, offering a roadmap for designing studies that are rigorous, ecologically valid, and relevant to practitioners. Her work is notable for its insistence on closing the divide between technical innovation and real-world application, ensuring that robotic tools are not just novel but genuinely useful. Through her research, Paul has established herself as a vital voice in making assistive technology accessible and effective for neurodiverse populations.