Nicole Robinson

Dr. Nicole Robinson is a Lecturer at Monash University, cross-appointed between the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences. She holds affiliations with the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering and the School of Psychological Sciences. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on human-robot interaction, translating human behavior into robotics systems to advance human-robot collaboration. She has led clinical trials and experimental studies involving humanoid and socially interactive robots, with a particular emphasis on healthcare applications and team performance in search-and-rescue missions.

Dr. Robinson previously served as a Chief Investigator and Program Leader of Human Interaction at the QUT Robotics Centre, and is currently an Honorary Adjunct Lecturer at Queensland University of Technology. She co-founded LYRO Robotics, a venture-backed company developing AI-driven robotic solutions for warehousing and agriculture, which won the 2020 Unicorn Cup as Australia’s top startup. Her work spans $7.4M in competitive grants and industry partnerships, emphasizing ethical robotics and public outreach.

Her research interests include human-robot teamwork, explainable AI, and behavioral psychology. She has published extensively on HRI methodologies, trust dynamics, and social robots in healthcare. Notable awards include the 2018 Best Team Award and 2019 Contribution to Public Debate Award from the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision.

Dr. Robinson is a sought-after speaker, with a media reach exceeding 40 million, and has hosted a podcast on AI and robotics. She actively promotes STEM education and gender diversity, contributing to courses and guest lectures at multiple institutions.