11th November 2026

Jiawei Lu, a third-year PhD student at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, has joined us for a nine-month research visit through the University’s inter-campus mobility programme.  During his stay Jiawei will be supervised by Associate Professor Maria Elena Giannaccini.

Jiawei’s research focuses on the design of socially assistive robots for stress management, with a particular interest in the perinatal period. His background spans mechanical and electronic engineering and product design, combining human-centred design methods with hands-on prototyping. His previous work has explored participatory design and interaction design approaches to supporting mental health and stress relief.

During his stay, Jiawei will work with our researchers to explore how robots’ appearance, physical form and interaction modalities can contribute to supportive and engaging experiences. This work aims to inform the design of soft robotic systems, connecting his doctoral research with the team’s expertise in soft robotics and embodied interaction.