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About

Theodora Koulouri’s research lies at the intersection of human-robot interaction, natural language processing, and computer-supported collaborative work, with a particular focus on how communication dynamics shape collaborative performance. Her most influential work, “Microblogging as a mechanism for human–robot interaction” (31 citations), pioneered the use of social media platforms to manage human-robot dialogue, demonstrating how natural language processing can extend social networks into device control. Her foundational 2009 study on miscommunication in human-robot interaction (27 citations) established key frameworks for designing speech-enabled robots capable of naturally managing conversational breakdowns, using Wizard-of-Oz experiments to reveal how naïve users collaborate with robotic agents. Koulouri has also made significant contributions to understanding gender dynamics in communication, notably in spatial navigation and computer-mediated teamwork. Her 2012 work on gender differences in route instruction (17 citations) and her 2016 study on visual feedback and gender in CSCW (17 citations) challenge assumptions about collaborative performance, showing how gender and interface design interact to affect outcomes. Through corpus-based analyses and experimental studies, Koulouri’s work provides essential insights for designing more natural, inclusive, and effective human-robot and computer-supported collaborative systems.