Shelly Levy Tzedek

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About

Shelly Levy Tzedek is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction, rehabilitation technology, and aging. Her work focuses on designing and evaluating socially assistive robots that support vulnerable populations, particularly stroke survivors and older adults. Levy Tzedek is perhaps best known for her development of a gamified rehabilitation system using the humanoid robot Pepper, created through a participatory design process that meaningfully incorporated both clinical expertise and patient perspectives. This landmark study, which has garnered 63 citations since its publication in 2020, demonstrated the real-world viability of long-term robot-assisted post-stroke rehabilitation and helped establish a framework for patient-centered robotic intervention design. Her research also examines how different age groups perceive and interact with humanoid robots, recognizing that effective assistive technology must account for generational differences in user preferences and comfort. With work spanning clinical application, inclusive design, and social robotics, Levy Tzedek brings a deeply human-centered lens to emerging technology. Her contributions are helping to shape how robots can meaningfully support rehabilitation and healthy aging, making her an important voice in the growing field of assistive and therapeutic robotics.