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About

Samantha Reig is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a particular focus on multi-robot systems, robot identity, embodiment, and social robotics in public and service contexts. Her most influential work, "Re-Embodiment and Co-Embodiment" (2019, 112 citations), challenged conventional assumptions about robot design by examining how artificial agents can transcend single-body constraints — a concept she has continued to develop across her career. Reig has made significant contributions to understanding how users perceive and respond to transitions between robots, how telepresence robots affect team dynamics, and how service robots should navigate personalization while respecting user privacy. Her studies on robot failure recovery, group identity presentation, and trust calibration offer practical design insights for real-world deployments. Notably, her 2020 analysis of public mourning over discontinued robots like the Opportunity Rover reveals the depth of emotional bonds humans form with robotic systems. With over 360 cumulative citations across her top works, Reig's research sits at a compelling intersection of psychology, design, and robotics, making her scholarship essential reading for anyone exploring the social dimensions of intelligent machines.