Nikolaos Mavridis (born April 28, 1973, in Greece) is the founder and director of the Interactive Robots and Media Lab (IRML) and holds a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to his doctoral studies, he was awarded an M.Eng. (summa cum laude) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an M.Sc. from the University of California, Los Angeles.^[1,3] His academic affiliations include serving as an assistant professor of research in the Computer Science department at New York University Polytechnic, an adjunct researcher at NCSR Demokritos, and an affiliation with Innopolis University.^[1]

His research interests focus on robotics, artificial intelligence, cognitive systems, machine perception, and human–robot interaction, especially verbal and non-verbal communication with robots. His work at the Interactive Robots and Media Lab has received coverage from media outlets in more than 20 countries, including the BBC, Agence France-Presse (AFP), The National (Abu Dhabi), and Al Jazeera TV. Additionally, he has spoken at TEDx events twice, presenting at TEDx Al Ain and TEDx Athens.

Outside of his academic career, Mavridis has contributed pro bono to several organizations as a mentor for The Next Generation Initiative, a vice-president and executive committee member at the MIT HSA, vice-president of the Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Society, founding chair of the IEEE UAE Robotics and Automation Society, and a bid preparer, presenter, and technical committee member who helped bring the World Robot Olympiad to Abu Dhabi. He is also an active member of the Switzerland-based Horasis think tank, which focuses on enacting visions for a sustainable future through platforms for cooperation and knowledge-sharing between developed countries and emerging markets. In politics, Mavridis is a member of the National Committee of the Recreate Greece liberal party and finished second in the district of A' Athens as a parliamentary candidate in the May 2012 National Election.