Papers
75
Total Citations
1,308
H-Index
21
About
Wafa Johal is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), educational robotics, and assistive technology. Her work focuses on designing and deploying social robots as learning companions, particularly for children with special educational needs. Johal's highly cited 2020 review on social robots for learning (126 citations) and her comprehensive scoping review of a decade of human-NAO interaction research (99 citations) have become essential reference points for the HRI community worldwide. Among her most notable contributions is the development of Cellulo (73 citations), an innovative tangible robotic platform built to blend seamlessly into classroom environments, reshaping how educators think about robots as versatile pedagogical tools. Her research extends into therapeutic applications, demonstrating robots' effectiveness in treating severe dysgraphia and supporting upper limb rehabilitation, reflecting a deep commitment to inclusive, accessible technology. Johal has also made significant strides in multimodal engagement detection and child-robot collaboration, exploring how gestures and interaction dynamics shape learning outcomes. Across her body of work, she consistently bridges technical innovation with real-world educational and clinical contexts, making her a leading voice in robot-assisted learning and a compelling figure for researchers and students navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of social robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Research Trends in Social Robots for Learning126 citations · 2020
- 210 Years of Human-NAO Interaction Research: A Scoping Review99 citations · 2021
- 3Cellulo73 citations · 2017
- 4When deictic gestures in a robot can harm child-robot collaboration61 citations · 2018
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- 7Iterative Design of an Upper Limb Rehabilitation Game with Tangible Robots52 citations · 2018
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- 10Robots for Learning34 citations · 2018