Short Bio

I am Fatemeh Rahimi, a Marie Curie PhD researcher in the SWEET project at Sheffield Hallam University. Before joining SWEET, I completed my Master’s in Data Science at the University of Naples Federico II and conducted research at CNR in Rome on affective computing and physiological signal analysis. I’ve always been deeply interested in capturing and modelling human relational dynamics within robotic systems, which has led me to my current work on trust assessment and Theory of Mind in human–robot interaction. I also enjoy exploring computational and learning-based methods to help robots become more socially intelligent and supportive collaborators.

Topic

The research aims to advance Artificial Trust (AT) in Human-Robot Interaction by integrating Theory of Mind (ToM) and enhancing trust assessment models. By combining observable behaviours, ToM insights, and internal trust factors, the goal is to create a comprehensive trust assessment framework for robots. This approach allows robots to fine-tune their responses, considering human needs and preferences. The research also seeks to develop a novel artificial cognitive architecture informed by machine learning, psychology, and social sciences. Experimental testing with a humanoid social robot will evaluate trustworthiness assessment accuracy and its impact on task performance. 

Host Institution: Sheffield Hallam University – Sheffield, United Kingdom

PhD Enrollment: Sheffield Hallam University

PI: Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo