Rohola Zandie

Papers

Total Citations

165

H-Index

About

Rohola Zandie is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of artificial emotional intelligence and socially assistive robotics, with a primary focus on improving mental health outcomes for older adults. His most impactful work, "Artificial Emotional Intelligence in Socially Assistive Robots for Older Adults: A Pilot Study," has garnered 159 citations and introduces Ryan, a social robot designed to provide companionship for individuals with depression and dementia. This study demonstrates how emotionally intelligent robots can effectively engage vulnerable populations, offering a scalable solution to the growing crisis of social isolation among seniors. Zandie further advanced the field by exploring the delivery of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through conversational social robots, a novel approach that bridges robotics and evidence-based psychotherapy. Though this 2019 paper has 6 citations, its conceptual foundation is critical for future mental health interventions. Zandie’s contributions are notable for humanizing technology—transforming robots from mere tools into empathetic companions capable of recognizing and responding to human emotions. His work not only pushes the boundaries of SAR but also addresses real-world healthcare challenges, making him a key figure in the ethical and practical deployment of AI in elder care.