Elaine Schaertl ShortView profile
Assistant Professor
Elaine Schaertl Short is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and a secondary appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tufts University School of Engineering. She also serves as a CEEO Fellow at the Center for Engineering Education Outreach. Her research focuses on human-robot interaction with an emphasis on accessibility and assistive technology. Education: Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Science, University of Southern California, 2017 Master of Science, Computer Science, University of Southern California, 2012 Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, Yale University, 2010 Dr. Short's research applies human-centered design and disability community values to the development of AI and machine learning for robotics. Her work spans several key areas including human-centered human-in-the-loop machine learning, disability-friendly assistive robotics, autonomous human-robot interaction in groups and public spaces, and accessibility inclusion in robotics education. She leads the Assistive Agent Behavior and Learning (AABL) Lab at Tufts, where her team develops algorithms that enable robust assistive human-robot interaction in natural environments like schools and homes. Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward making robots more adaptable to human needs through interactive learning techniques. The research shows increasing focus on how robots can learn effectively from non-expert users in noisy real-world environments, with particular attention to inclusive design approaches that address the needs of diverse user populations including children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Her work bridges technical innovation with social impact, creating pathways for more equitable human-robot systems. Scientific Awards: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship USC Provost's Fellowship Google Anita Borg Scholarship Viterbi School of Engineering Merit Award Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Merit Award Best Research Assistant Award Best Teaching Assistant Award Service Award from USC Department of Computer Science Saybrook College Mary Casner Prize from Yale Dr. Short has secured multiple competitive grants including an NSF Collaborative Research grant for "Designing Social Robots to Promote Equity in Collaborative Teams" (2024-2027) and the "BPC-AE: AccessComputing Fifth Extension" (2024-2029). She actively mentors students through dissertation research and specialized courses like "HCI for Disability." Her professional service includes advisory roles for PACT4PWD and the EU Telepresence Robots in Schools Project, as well as committee work on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Tufts University. She leads the Assistive Agent Behavior and Learning (AABL) Lab, which focuses on three main research thrusts: Learning on-the-Fly and in-the-Wild (enabling robots to learn from non-expert users in real-world environments), Fluent Interaction with Groups and Crowds (developing algorithms for natural robot interactions in social settings), and Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Diverse Users (using inclusive design approaches to serve "non-normative" user populations).
