Jacqueline Borgstedt

Jacqueline is a research assistant in the Social Brain Sciences Group at ETH Zürich, contributing to the MICRO project, which explores the potential of social robots as alternative assessment tools for children’s well-being. With an
interdisciplinary background in psychology and human-computer interaction, her research combines quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate how users engage with socially assistive technologies, particularly in mental health contexts.

Prior to her current role, she spent a year working in the tech industry, where she led a research and development project in human-robot interaction and contributed to user research and product management of digital mental health products. Her work involved close collaboration with industry and academic partners, bridging the gap between science, design, and practical implementation. Jacqueline holds an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Glasgow and is completing her PhD as part of the UKRI Centre for socially intelligent artificial agents. Her doctoral research focuses on multimodal interaction between humans and robots, with a special interest in the role of touch in fostering emotional support and reducing stress. Throughout her academic journey, she has been driven by a passion for designing human-centered, ethically grounded technologies that promote mental well-being.

In her free time, she enjoys cooking food from around the world, dancing salsa, hiking in the mountains, and engaging in science outreach initiatives.