About

Hi, I’m Ugnė Aleksandra Morkutė, a PhD researcher in Human-Centered Technology at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

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 disabilities.

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.

Currently, I work on projects related to automated vehicles, human-centered AI systems, and assistive technologies, including robot-assisted dining and disability-centered design. Across these areas, I am interested in how interaction design can support transparency, dignity, inclusion, and effective collaboration between humans and intelligent systems.

More broadly, I aim to design technologies that are not only functional but also trustworthy, interpretable, socially aware, and aligned with human needs.