Dr. Huisman, G.

Gijs Huisman is Assistant Professor of embodied interaction at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. His main interest is in how our sense of touch plays a role in technology-mediated social interactions, in particular in shaping social presence, intimacy, and empathy. Gijs' research is grounded in theories of embodied cognition that he applies to the research and design of digital/physical systems. Here, the role of the body in (social) interactions takes centre stage.

Academic Background

Before joining the IDE faculty, Gijs completed a PhD on Social Touch Technology at the University of Twente, a postdoc at the 4TU Centre for Humans and technology focussing on multi-sensory VR, co-founded a startup where he worked on the design of haptic products for social interactions, and coordinated work on digital/physical systems grounded in the Sustainable Development Goals at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences' Digital Society School. 

Education

• 2011 ─ 2017
  PhD Social Touch Technology, Human Media Interaction, University of Twente
• 2009 ─ 2011
  Master Communicatie Studies: New Media Research & Design, University of Twente (Cum laude)

Experience

• 2020 ─ Present
  Assistant professor, TU Delft, Industrial Design Engineering
• 2019
  Visiting researcher, University College London, Knowledge Lab
• 2018 – 2020
  Senior Track Associate, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Digital Society School
• 2017 – 2020
  Co-founder and Head of R&D, House of Haptics
• 2017 – 2018
  Post-doctoral researcher, University of Twente, 4TU Centre for Humans and Technology