College of Connected Computing

Understanding how emotions shape human–machine interaction

We build systems that recognize, model, and respond to human affect — bridging cognitive science, AI, and social simulation.

Institution Vanderbilt University
College College of Connected Computing
Principal Investigator Jonathan Gratch
Lab photo

About the Lab

The Affective Computing Group at Vanderbilt University investigates how emotional and social intelligence can be modeled computationally and embedded in interactive systems. Our work spans virtual humans, negotiation agents, and affective interfaces — with applications in training, therapy, and education.

News

Aug 2026 The Affective Computing Group officially launches at Vanderbilt University's College of Connected Computing!