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About

Wendy Ju is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), interaction design, and social robotics, whose work has fundamentally shaped how we think about robot expressiveness and human acceptance of robotic systems. With her most-cited paper, "Designing Robots With Movement in Mind" (2014, 306 citations), Ju established a compelling framework arguing that expressive, spatially aware motion is central to effective robot design — not merely an aesthetic afterthought. Building on animation principles like anticipation and reaction, her 2011 paper "Expressing Thought" (272 citations) demonstrated how readable robot behavior enables intuitive human prediction and interaction. Ju's research spans public-space service robots, telepresence systems, and the psychological dimensions of HRI, including groundbreaking investigations into the uncanny valley and the physiological arousal triggered by touching humanoid robots. Her 2008 survey-based study on societal attitudes toward robot workers (183 citations) broadened the field's awareness of public perception as a design constraint. Through playful yet rigorous projects like the Mechanical Ottoman, she has consistently championed experiential, prototype-driven inquiry. Collectively, her body of work has amassed over 1,400 citations, cementing her influence on a generation of HRI designers and researchers.