Manohar Golleru
Open for Internships & Research Collaborations

Hi, I'm Manohar Golleru

Human Factors & Interaction Design Researcher

I study how people interact with machines and intelligent systems, with a focus on human-machine interaction, assistive AI communication, and user-centered design. My work aims to develop technologies that support human abilities, strengthen communication, and meaningfully improve everyday life.

Contact Me View Publications

Education

PhD Candidate, Human Factors & Ergonomics

University at Buffalo (Expected 2027)

Key Research Focus

I explore how humans interact with robots, with a special interest in social norms, behavior modeling, and the dynamics of trust and communication. My work looks at how these interactions can be simulated and studied in VR/XR environments.

Master of Science

Industrial and Systems Engineering

University at Buffalo (2024)

Bachelor of Technology

Mechanical Engineering

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India

Experience

Research Assistant, Communication and Assistive Device Lab (CADL)

Jan 2023 – Present

University at Buffalo

  • Built AI-driven assistive communication systems using large language models (LLMs) and RAG frameworks (LightRAG, GraphRAG) for AAC users with ALS and cerebral palsy.
  • Created DEAN (Dynamic, Expressive, Augmented Narrator), an LLM-based platform enabling adaptive and expressive message generation.
  • Developed conversational pipelines integrating low-latency ASR (Deepgram Nova 2), neural TTS (Microsoft Neural Speech), and real-time tunneling via Raspberry Pi and Ngrok.
  • Ran human-subject studies on AAC-mediated interaction, combining interface design, usability testing, and multimodal analysis using ELAN and R.
  • Contributed to OS-DPI, a Node.js environment supporting AAC interface prototyping.
  • Applied human-centered design methods to improve AAC accessibility while collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.

Projects

Open-Source AAC

Contributed to OS-DPI, an open-source AAC research platform, by implementing emotive TTS, in-built ASR, and location-aware LLM responses.

Open Source Node.js

Drone Show Simulation

Developed and tested drone simulation environments in Gazebo to evaluate collision avoidance, sensor fusion, and navigation algorithms for robust flight control.

PX4 Gazebo Python
View Case Study

UI Design for mHealth App

Created low and high fidelity prototypes using Figma, conducted user testing, and refined the interface to secure a 3rd-place finish at a business pitch competition.

Figma UI/UX

Workplace Ergonomics

Performed ergonomic assessments (RULA, ACGIH-TLV) to identify musculoskeletal risks and implemented solutions to improve workplace safety and efficiency.

RULA ACGIH-TLV

Publications & Presentations

Golleru, M. (2024). Enhancing engagement and interaction in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): A comparative study on the impact of front-facing partner display in SGD-mediated conversations. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.

Higginbotham, J., Golleru, M., Pal, S., et al. (2025). Developing Artificial Intelligence Applications for Human Conversation: Perspectives, Tools, Exploratory Analyses. Assistive Technology Outcomes & Benefits (ATOB), 19.

Conference Presentation: Enhancing engagement and interaction in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)... ASPIRE HFES 68th International Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, 2024.

Conference Presentation: Conversational artificial intelligence: Promises and current realities. Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference, Orlando, FL, 2024.

Kaczor, E. E., Golleru, M., et al. (2026). Detecting ethanol intoxication and impairment using wearable biosensors. In Proceedings of the 59th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

Skills & Certifications

Qualitative

User-centered design Usability testing Survey/Interview methods Interdisciplinary collaboration

Quantitative

Statistical analysis (R, Python, SAS) Time-series modeling Data visualization Ergonomic assessments (RULA)

Technical

Languages & Tools

Python R SAS Matlab Node.js

ML/CV & Pose Estimation

PyTorch TensorFlow OpenCV YOLO MediaPipe

Certifications

CITI: Conflict of Interest CITI: Social & Behavioral Research OSHA 501 OSHA 511

Get In Touch

Open to discussing new projects, research opportunities, or potential collaborations.