About

Hi, I’m Ugnė Aleksandra Morkutė, a PhD researcher in Human-Centered Technology at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Originally from Lithuania, I’ve lived and studied across six countries, giving me a cross-cultural lens on how people relate to technology differently depending on context, culture, and ability.

My research sits at the intersection of human–AI interaction, automated systems, and inclusive technology design. I am particularly interested in trust, group dynamics, and user behavior in emerging technologies, as well as the design of assistive and socially aware systems for people with physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, and acquired brain injuries.

I use methods such as virtual reality simulations, eye-tracking, behavioral analysis, co-design, and qualitative research to study how people interact with intelligent systems in complex real-world environments. My work explores how trust is formed, negotiated, and disrupted in high-stakes and socially dynamic contexts.

For an overview of my projects, see my portfolio.