Nina van Gulik

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About

Nina van Gulik is a rising scholar in human-robot interaction, best known for her critical examination of the novelty effect in social robotics. Her landmark paper, "Social Robots in the Wild and the Novelty Effect" (2023), has already garnered 12 citations, establishing her as a key voice in understanding how user engagement with robots evolves over time. Van Gulik’s work moves beyond lab-based studies, deploying robots in real-world settings to reveal how initial fascination often gives way to declining interest—a finding with profound implications for designing robots that sustain long-term social bonds. Her research bridges psychology, engineering, and design, offering evidence-based strategies to mitigate the novelty effect, such as adaptive behaviors and personalized interactions. Van Gulik’s contributions are particularly notable for their methodological rigor and practical relevance, informing the development of companion robots for elderly care, education, and public spaces. As an early-career researcher, her impact is already felt, and her focus on ecological validity and longitudinal engagement positions her as a leading thinker in creating robots that truly integrate into human lives.