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About

Ekaterina Ivanova is a researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, haptics, and motor learning, with particular expertise in physical human-robot collaboration, teleoperation, and rehabilitation robotics. Her work explores fundamental questions about how humans and robots can most effectively share physical tasks, from stroke rehabilitation to remote surgery and space teleoperation. Among her most influential contributions, Ivanova has demonstrated that humans prefer robotic guidance over unpredictable human partners during motion assistance (36 citations), and that reactive robotic partners — rather than passive guidance — significantly enhance motor learning outcomes (34 citations). Her research on haptic communication has shown that short time delays need not compromise collaborative performance (26 citations), a finding with important implications for remote and space-based robotics. Ivanova has also pioneered investigations into supernumerary robotic limbs, exploring whether a single operator can effectively coordinate three simultaneous tools — work that holds direct relevance for minimally invasive surgery. Her earlier hardware contributions, including a telerehabilitation system for post-stroke upper limb training (22 citations) and the Bi-Manu-Interact device, underscore her commitment to translating fundamental findings into clinically meaningful tools. With a growing body of work accumulating over 160 citations, Ivanova represents an emerging voice shaping the future of physical human-robot collaboration.