KU EECS and I2S welcomes human-robot interaction researcher and the SEBO Lab
The University of Kansas has welcomed researcher Sarah Sebo and her Socially Engaging roBOtics (SEBO) Lab, marking an important addition to KU’s growing research portfolio in artificial intelligence, robotics, and human-centered technology. As of summer 2026, Sebo has transitioned from the University of Chicago to KU, where she now serves as an assistant professor in the School of Engineering’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS).
The SEBO Lab, which is now part of KU’s Institute for Information Sciences (I2S), explores how robots can be designed to support people in meaningful and socially engaging ways. Research within the lab focuses on understanding social dynamics in human-robot interactions and developing robotic systems that assist people in settings such as schools, homes, and collaborative work environments. The lab’s mission is to create social robots that empower individuals, strengthen social connections, and enrich daily life.
Sebo is widely recognized for her contributions to the field of human-robot interaction. Her research has examined how robots influence teamwork, learning, trust, and social behavior, helping shape a deeper understanding of how humans interact with intelligent machines. Her work has earned numerous honors, including a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and multiple best paper recognitions at the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI).
“I’m very excited to be joining the KU research community as part of EECS and I2S! In a way, I feel like I’m coming home, as I attended high school in Topeka – it’s good to be back,” Sebo said. “I’m very drawn to the potential to collaborate with the top-notch faculty in the School of Special Education and those within the social sciences. I hope to continue exploring the use of robots in elementary education and how we engage with robots as unique social agents – different from both people and machines.”
Sebo is actively recruiting undergraduates, master’s students, and doctoral students to work in the lab. More information on how to get involved can be found on the SEBO Lab website.
Before joining KU, Sebo served as an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Chicago from 2020 to 2026. She earned her doctoral degree in Computer Science from Yale University, where she worked with Brian Scassellati in the Yale Social Robotics Lab, and holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering.
The move brings new opportunities for collaboration across engineering, computing, and interdisciplinary research communities at KU. According to the lab, research activities will continue at both KU and the University of Chicago through 2028, creating a multi-campus environment that expands research partnerships and student engagement opportunities.
With the arrival of Sebo and the SEBO Lab, I2S strengthens its position as a hub for cutting-edge research at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-centered design, advancing technologies that can better support people where they live, learn, and work.