Dr. Diego R. Faria is a Reader in Robotics and Adaptive Systems at the School of Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, U.K. He specializes in cognitive robotics, artificial intelligence, multisensory AI, and human-robot interaction (HRI), with a strong focus on neuro-affective intelligence, socially assistive robots, and AI-driven healthcare applications.

Academic and Research Background

Prior to joining Hertfordshire, Dr. Faria was a Lecturer (2016-2019) and Senior Lecturer (2019-2022) at Aston University, Birmingham, U.K. From 2014 to 2016, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Systems and Robotics, University of Coimbra, collaborating on EU-funded and Portuguese government-funded projects in robotic grasping, artificial perception, cognitive robotics, assistive technology, and applied machine learning (including Bayesian inference).

Key Research Contributions and Projects

🔹 Project Coordinator of the EU CHIST-ERA InDex Project (Robot In-hand Dexterous Manipulation), funded by EPSRC U.K. (2019–2022), leading a collaboration with Sorbonne University, TU Wien, University of Genoa, and University of Tartu.
🔹 Principal Investigator (PI) for Industry Collaboration Projects through KTP-Innovate U.K., focusing on perception and autonomous systems for self-driving vehicles (2020–2022).
🔹 PI of the Royal Society-funded project "Sim2Real" (From Simulation to Real Robotic Applications), exploring deep reinforcement learning and knowledge transfer for robotic adaptation (2019-2022).
🔹 Lead Investigator (PI UK side) in International Collaborations with Brazilian Universities (UFPR, UEL) on:
    ✅ Brain-computer interface (BCI) and prosthetics: Merging EMG and EEG signals for controlling a robotic hand (CONFAP-Brazil & Newton Fund).
    ✅ AI-driven interactive games for neurocognitive training in children with learning difficulties and neurodevelopmental disorders (CONFAP-Brazil & IEEE RAS-SIGHT).

Research Interests

Dr. Faria's research lies at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience, focusing on:

• Neuro-Affective Intelligence & Emotion-Aware AI 🧠🤖
• Multisensory AI for Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
• Socially Assistive Robotics & Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) & AI-Driven Prosthetics
• Adaptive Learning & Human-AI Collaboration
• Deep Reinforcement Learning for Sim2Real Transfer
• Perception & Autonomous Systems in Robotics

With a strong record in interdisciplinary research and funding acquisition, Dr. Faria is committed to advancing AI-driven solutions for healthcare, education, and autonomous systems, fostering real-world impact through collaborations with academia, industry, and government agencies. 🚀