Assistant Professor Mayu Koike has returned from a three month stay in Bielefeld University supported by the WRH Faculty Research Abroad Program. This is a report on the activities and results of her stay.

 

 

Awardee	Mayu Koike
Destination Institution	Bielefeld University
City and Country	Bielefeld, Germany
Host Researcher	Friederike Eyssel, Professor
Travel Period	2024/　11/　19　～　2025　/　2/　14　（　88days）
Project Title	How Authenticity in AI Romance Shapes Real-World Behavior

 

 

I visited Prof. Eyssel’s lab at CITEC, Bielefeld University (Germany). During my stay, I received valuable guidance from Prof. Eyssel on my research topic, “Romantic Relationships with Virtual Agents/AI,”.

As a psychologist affiliated with a technology-focused research center, Prof. Eyssel shares common academic ground with me while also possessing extensive expertise in human robots’ interaction. Through discussions with her, I gained insights into interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers in engineering, as well as experiences in academic conferences and journals in this field. These exchanges provided me with a valuable roadmap for expanding my own research.

Additionally, as an established female researcher leading a lab, Prof. Eyssel shared her experiences in managing responsibilities within and outside the university, balancing work and personal life, and navigating a career in the interdisciplinary field of psychology and technology. These insights were an invaluable part of my stay.

She also provided me with opportunities to broaden my research scope and expand my professional network, both within CITEC and beyond. Through her connections, including those with researchers at the University of Bonn, I was able to explore how my research could be applied in different psychological areas and gain perspectives from experts outside my immediate area of study. This experience not only expanded my network but also introduced me to new research approaches.

I was also invited as a guest speaker in multiple research labs and seminars (including those led by Prof. Gerd Bohner, Prof. Stefan Kopp, Prof. Britta Wrede, Prof. Anna-Lisa Vollmer, and Dr. Alexa Weiss). These opportunities allowed me to receive valuable feedback on my research from experts and engage in meaningful discussions with lab members.
Furthermore, I had the chance to visit labs conducting research at the intersection of medicine and technology, where I observed robots and research facilities. This was a truly unique and enriching experience.
As a result of this visit, many researchers expressed interest in my work, and I received research collaboration opportunities and cross-cultural comparative studies. In particular, I was able to develop new research with Dr. Ricarda Wullenkord, a member of Prof. Eyssel’s lab. The exchange of ideas with lab members sparked fresh perspectives, making this research stay highly productive and intellectually stimulating.

*This was the second destination of Prof. Koike’s WRH research abroad. During her travel she also visited Tampere University in Finland.

Related links:
– World Research Hub (WRH) Program
– Mayu Koike (Science Tokyo STAR Search)