About me
I’m an Assistant Professor of Media and Visual Arts at Koç University, Istanbul. I specialize in interaction design (IxD) and user experience (UX) research in the context of social robots in everyday life.
I received my Ph.D. in Computer Sciences (’25) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, advised by Bilge Mutlu, in the People and Robots Laboratory.
I also hold a Ph.D. minor in Human Development and Family Studies, an M.S. in Cognitive Science (’20) from Middle East Technical University, and a B.S. in Computer Science (’18) from Bilkent University.
👩🏽💻 Research Interests
I develop design principles for socially interactive systems (e.g., social robots) and study their social and practical impact in everyday contexts. My work takes an interdisciplinary approach grounded in computer science, interaction design, cognitive science, and human ecology.
I apply qualitative and design-based methods to understand user needs, generate technical insights, and design, prototype, and deploy socio-technical systems.
I use ecological and family theories to describe how people engage with technology in long-term, real-world settings.
🤖 Research Themes and Methods
My research can be understood through three interconnected themes, applied in the context of social robots for families 🤖🏡👪:
1) Human-Centered Design of Social Robots
I explore how socially interactive systems (e.g., social robots) can fit meaningfully into everyday life. Using participatory design, qualitative interviews, and technology probe studies, I identify users’ needs and translate them into design requirements. These insights inform prototypes of social robots designed for real-world contexts.
Example Publications: Designing in-home robots as reading companions, for caretaking, and as homework assistants. Designing unboxing experiences and emotional expressions for social robots.
2) Understanding Real-World Use of Social Robots
I study how people interact with social robots in both natural environments and controlled settings through fieldwork, lab studies, and long-term deployments. My work reveals how social robots fit into everyday routines, relationships, and expectations. Example Publications: 4-week in-home deployment of the Misty robot platform as a reading companion robot for children.
3) Theory and Methods for Human-Robot Interaction
I draw theoretical insights from design, social sciences, and cognitive science to understand human-robot interaction as part of broader socio-technical systems. My research contributes new design frameworks and methodological approaches for studying and shaping meaningful human-robot relationships. Example Publications:
Theory: Family Theories in Human-Robot Interaction, Toward Family-Robot Interactions
Methods and Tools: Theater-inspired interaction design, Family-Robot Routines Inventory
🗣️ Talks and Selected Publications
🎯 Highlighted Milestones
- May 2025: Successfully defended my Ph.D. dissertation “Designing Social Robots for Everyday Family Life” at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Below are some milestones that have shaped my academic path so far:
June 23, 2025: Co-organized IDC2025 workshops - Full Day: Care Ecosystems in HCI. Half Day: Playful and Ethical Child-AI Systems
March 3, 2025: HRI Pioneers 2025 Workshop - Networking Chair
May 12, 2024: Hosted full-day CHI2024 workshop - “Methods for Family-Centered Design”
March 11, 2024: Attended HRI Pioneers Workshop (2024 Cohort) — “Toward Family-Robot Interactions: A Family-Centered Framework in HRI”
Jan 11, 2024: Talking Robotics Webinar #69: “Robots and Routines”
Dec 4, 2023: Advanced to Ph.D. Candidacy
Nov 17, 2023: Invited Speaker at the University of Iowa — Rising Stars in HCI
April 23, 2023: Attended Doctoral Consortium at CHI2023, Hamburg
June 19, 2023: Hosted half-day IDC2023 workshop — Family-Centered Interaction Design
May 26, 2023: Passed qualifying examination on “Social Robots for Families”