Elizabeth S. Nilsen

University of Waterloo

Papers

3

Total Citations

187

H-Index

3

About

Dr. Elizabeth S. Nilsen is a leading researcher at the intersection of clinical psychology and human-computer interaction, whose work explores how technology can address social and emotional challenges. Her primary research areas include social anxiety, robot-assisted interventions, and intelligent agents for mental health support. Dr. Nilsen’s most notable contribution is her pioneering investigation into the potential applications of social robots for treating social anxiety disorder, a study that has garnered 133 citations and highlights how robotic platforms can deliver evidence-based cognitive-behavioral interventions to individuals who avoid traditional therapy. She has also advanced the understanding of how university students perceive and use intelligent agents—such as chatbots and virtual assistants—to cope with stress and social anxiety, a timely contribution given rising mental health concerns on campuses. Beyond clinical applications, Dr. Nilsen developed the Curiosity Notebook, an innovative web-based research platform designed to systematically study learning by teaching. This tool addresses a long-standing methodological challenge in educational psychology, enabling controlled experiments on peer tutoring. Her work bridges gaps between mental health, education, and technology, offering practical solutions for underserved populations.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

3
H-Index
3
Papers
187
Total Citations
62
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Potential Applications of Social Robots in Robot-Assisted Interventions for Social Anxiety
133 citations · 2022
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2022 (1 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 8
🏛 Institutions: University of Waterloo

Top Papers

  1. 1
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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 12 days ago