About Me

I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Chicago, working with Professor Sarah Sebo in the Human Robot Interaction Lab.

I am interested in exploring how social robots can be used in childhood education to create safe spaces for students. My current research investigates how to best use robots to teach social-emotional learning in ways that provide the most benefit to students and teachers alike.

Interests
  • Human-Robot Interaction
  • Robots in Childhood Education
  • Social Robots as “Safe Spaces”
Education

  • PhD Computer Science

    University of Chicago

  • MSc Robotics

    The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

  • BSc Mechanical Engineering

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Featured Publications
Fictional vs. Factual Robot Tutor Dialogue Can Shape Child Social-Emotional Learning
Robotic reading companions can mitigate oral reading anxiety in children
Recent Publications
Lauren L Wright, Kaitlyn Li, Hewitt Watkins, Kiljoong Kim, Sarah Sebo (2026). Fictional vs. Factual Robot Tutor Dialogue Can Shape Child Social-Emotional Learning. In HRI.
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Lauren L Wright, Pooja Vegesna, Joseph E. Michaelis, Bilge Mutlu, Sarah Sebo (2025). Robotic reading companions can mitigate oral reading anxiety in children. Science Robotics.
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Lauren L Wright, Andre K. Dang, Sarah Sebo (2025). "I Know That Other Robot, You Can Turn Them Off": Ingroup Robots Elicit Lower Compliance to Instructions that Undermine Another Robot. In RO-MAN.
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Lauren L Wright, Aditi Kothiyal, Kai O. Arras, Barbara Bruno (2022). How a Social Robot’s Vocalization Affects Children’s Speech, Learning, and Interaction. In RO-MAN.
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