Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Dalia De Santis is a computational neuroscientist and rehabilitation engineer whose research bridges human motor learning, sensorimotor neuroscience, and assistive robotics. Her work focuses on two interconnected themes: restoring proprioceptive and kinesthetic function in neurological patients, and developing intelligent human-machine interfaces for individuals with severe motor impairments. De Santis has made particularly significant contributions to post-stroke rehabilitation, demonstrating how robot-assisted training can systematically target and enhance the kinesthetic sense — a frequently overlooked dimension of neuromotor recovery. Her most-cited work (2015, 58 citations) established a compelling link between proprioceptive integrity and recovery outcomes, while a series of studies introduced novel assessment protocols and training paradigms, including the innovative concept of "pulsed assistance" to promote volitional effort during robotic therapy. More recently, De Santis has extended her expertise into body-machine interfaces, exploring how residual body movements can enable paralyzed individuals to control complex, high-degree-of-freedom robotic systems. Her work on strategy switching in unstable dynamics (34 citations) further reveals her interest in the fundamental mechanisms underlying skilled motor behavior. Collectively, her research addresses both the science of human movement and its practical restoration, making her a meaningful contributor to both rehabilitation medicine and assistive technology.