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Human-Robot Interaction

Doctorate

Overview

Application Requirements

Faculty

Apply Request Info

Application Deadlines

Fall: Jan 15
Spring: Sep 15
Summer: n/a

School/Department

Computer Science
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Format

On-campus

Commitment Options

Full-time
Part-time (Daytime)

Average Duration

3 - 5 years

Credits

Varies

Contact

gradadmissions@tufts.edu

Overview

Human-Robot Interaction is an interdisciplinary effort aimed at understanding and improving all aspects of interactions between humans and robots. Doctoral students in Human-Robot Interaction have the opportunity to build a unique degree program for themselves as they lay the foundations for future generations of researchers and practitioners working with robots.

Program Highlights

The Human-Robot Interaction curriculum draws on knowledge from computer science, mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as psychology, philosophy, anthropology, legal fields, among various others. Cutting across the engineering and social sciences, human-robot interaction research at Tufts is a paradigmatic multi- and inter-disciplinary program with enormous future societal benefits.

Doctoral students work closely with faculty every step of the way. Researchers collaborate with and learn from some of the most renowned experts in the country, all while seamlessly transitioning from graduate studies to a career.

There’s no better place to earn your human-robot interaction degree than in a hub for modern technology. Tufts is only a short subway ride from downtown Boston and Cambridge—well-known centers for leading technology research and development.

Doctoral candidates pursue a joint PhD in their home department and in Human-Robot Interaction. Home departments include:

Career Outcomes

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to develop and take on new roles in our lives, those with a degree in human-robot interaction will be in increasing demand. The future of AI is bright and holds much promise—to achieve all that’s possible with robots, we’ll need skilled engineers with hands-on experience researching, developing, and applying the principles of robotics and machine learning to projects big and small. With a degree from Tufts, you’ll be situated at the forefront of AI growth.

Application Requirements

Three departments are associated with the joint Human-Robot Interaction PhD program: Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Students apply to and enroll through one of these departments either as a prospective graduate student or as a current graduate student after they have been accepted by one of the departments.

Application Fee
Resume/CV
Personal Statement
Transcripts
Three letters of Recommendation
Official GRE scores (if applicable)
- GRE General Test scores not required for applicants who will have received a degree from a U.S. or Canadian institution by time of enrollment. GRE scores required for all other applicants.
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test scores (if applicable)
Portfolio (optional)

Tuition and Financial Aid

We recognize that attending graduate school involves a significant financial investment. Our team is here to answer your questions about tuition rates and scholarship opportunities.

Please contact us at gradadmissions@tufts.edu.

Faculty

Matthias Scheutz

Karol Family Applied Technology Professor

Artificial intelligence, artificial life, cognitive modeling, foundations of cognitive science, human-robot interaction, multi-scale agent-based models, natural language understanding.

Jason Rife

Professor and Chair of Mechanical Engineering

navigation, safety-critical transportation systems, state estimation, human-robot interaction

Usman Khan

Professor

Optimization and Control, Machine Learning, Signal Processing, Graph Theory, Decentralized Algorithms

Shuchin Aeron

Associate Professor

data science, statistical signal processing, inverse problems, compressed sensing, information theory, convex optimization, machine learning, algorithms for geophysical signal processing, compressed sensing architectures and evaluation, video and image data acquisition and processing

J.P. de Ruiter

Professor of Psychology and Computer Science

Cognition and Psycholinguistics

Robert Jacob

Professor

human-computer interaction, new interaction modes and techniques, implicit brain-computer interfaces, user interface software

Academic Leave

Karen Panetta

Professor and Dean of Graduate Education

Signal processing; image processing; simulation modeling

Chris Rogers

John R. Beaver Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Engineering Education, Human Robot Interaction, Mechanical Engineering, Music Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

Elaine Short

Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor

Algorithmic human-robot interaction for robust and socially appropriate assistance to human users, especially users with disabilities.

Jivko Sinapov

Assistant Professor

Artificial Intelligence, Developmental Robotics, Computational Perception, Robotic Manipulation, Machine Learning, Human-Robot and Human-Computer Interaction

Academic Leave

Robert White

Associate Professor

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication, modeling, and testing. Particularly acoustic MEMS (microphones, ultrasound), and aerodynamic measurement technologies (skin friction sensors, aeroacoustic sensors). Acoustics, vibrations, dynamics and controls. Electromechanical systems including robotics. Finite element methods and system modeling. Electronics for measurement. Mechanical measurements.