Sanika Moharana

University of California San Diego, University of San Diego

Papers

Total Citations

108

H-Index

About

Sanika Moharana is a researcher at the intersection of human-computer interaction, healthcare robotics, and equitable technology design. Her work centers on making invisible stakeholders visible within care ecosystems, particularly informal caregivers and underserved communities. Her most cited paper, "Robots for Joy, Robots for Sorrow: Community Based Robot Design for Dementia Caregivers" (96 citations), is a landmark study that challenges the prevailing technology focus on people with dementia alone. By foregrounding the emotional and practical needs of informal caregivers, Moharana demonstrates how community-based co-design can create robots that support both joy and sorrow in caregiving. This work has reshaped conversations around who technology should serve in dementia care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she developed "Iris: A Low-Cost Telemedicine Robot to Support Healthcare Safety and Equity" (12 citations), addressing critical gaps in healthcare access. Moharana’s contributions are notable for their human-centered, low-cost approach, proving that impactful technology need not be expensive or exclusive. Her research continues to inspire a more inclusive vision of robotics—one where care extends beyond the patient to embrace the entire care network.