Dr Tanaya Guha she/her

My research focuses on developing AI systems that understand human behaviour in socially meaningful ways. Combining deep learning, computer vision, and speech/signal processing, my group builds human-centric technologies for wellbeing, safety, and inclusion. We work across affective computing, multimodal behaviour analysis, and AI ethics—developing models that interpret verbal and non-verbal cues, address privacy and bias, and model human activity in domains like healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and human-robot interaction. I engage in interdisciplinary collaborations in psychology, healthcare, HCI, and media studies to ensure the responsible, impactful deployment of behaviour-aware AI systems.

Potential CDT students will have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research in areas like mental health using AI, affective computing and human-agent interaction. We build systems that use speech, facial, and physiological signals to detect and support mental health and social interaction. Currently, I supervise CDT projects (Social AI CDT) in inclusive facial expression recognition (with Psychology), stroke impairment prediction (with Neuroscience) and in music therapy. I take a practical, supportive approach to supervision and have successfully guided 5 PhD students to completion. My students have successfully assume roles in academia and industry in the UK and abroad.

As a woman in STEM and a former international student, I’m committed to inclusive, respectful research environments. I lead a diverse group, promote open dialogue and cultural awareness. I support EDI goals also through my research on media inclusion, co-leading a Leverhulme-funded project that develops tools to assess and improve diversity in screen content.