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Xuan Zhao
Research Scientist SPARQ (Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions) Stanford University Department of Psychology Email: xuanzhao@stanford.edu How Do We Connect with Other People? And with Humanlike Machines? |
RESEARCHAs a behavioral scientist, I conduct empirical research to study how social cognition influences our conversation, collaboration, and human-robot interaction.
At a broad level, my research addresses an intricate dilemma facing the modern life: the surge of human-machine interaction & the struggle of creating meaningful and fulfilling human social connection.
Find out more on my RESEARCH page. |
"Can’t we go five minutes without you checking your flower?"
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"Of course I'm listening. Don't you see me making eye contact, striking an open posture, leaning towards you and nodding empathically?"
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FROM RESEARCH TO APPLICATIONThere is nothing more practical than a good theory. —Kurt Lewin
Striving for real-world applications of my research, I have designed and taught "Leading with Empathy" at the Brown Leadership Institute to examine the connections between social cognition and social innovation. I have also worked with other behavioral scientists at Booth and improv experts at The Second City to design inclusion and communication workshops such as "Inclusion in Practice: Appreciating Our Differences". Finally, curious to map out the landscape of humanlike robots, I have created the ABOT Database—an ever-growing image collection of real-world anthropomorphic robots.
Find out more on my TEACHING and RESOURCES pages. |
MORE ABOUT MEBefore arriving at Stanford SPARQ, I was a postdoc at Chicago Booth and received my PhD in Psychology at Brown University. I also visited the Graduate School of Business and the Department of Psychology at Stanford during graduate school. Find our more about who I have worked with on my RESEARCH page!
I received my B.Sc. from Chu Kochen College, Zhejiang University and traveled around the world as part of the Semester At Sea program in my senior year in college. I enjoy reading, writing, public speaking, nature, food, and heartfelt conversations with friends. Find out more on my UPDATES! page. |
Harvesting homegrown tomatoes and checking the sunflowers in my backyard.
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