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About

Nevena Ackovska is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and therapeutic intervention. Her primary research areas include human-robot interaction, emotion-aware systems, and robot-assisted therapy, with a particular focus on developing assistive technologies for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Ackovska’s most significant contribution is her foundational work in Robot Assisted Therapy, where she demonstrated how humanoid robots can facilitate rehabilitative interaction for neurodiverse children. Her highly cited survey on emotion-featured robots (24 citations) established behavioral models for socially intelligent machines, while her 2017 paper on robot therapy for autistic children (15 citations) helped launch one of the fastest-growing fields in assistive technology. Ackovska innovatively addressed resource limitations by extending clinic-based robot therapy to home environments through mobile and web applications—work that proved critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also advanced robotics education by championing hands-on laboratory experiences (14 citations), bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation. With over 85 total citations across her most-cited works, Ackovska’s research continues to shape how robots can understand human emotions, adapt to users’ emotional states, and provide accessible therapeutic interventions for vulnerable populations.