Laura Eglīte is a Research Intern at UNU-CRIS, contributing to the Nature, Climate and Health Cluster, under the supervision of Nidhi Nagabhatla.
She is pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s degree in Cyberspace, Behaviour and E-Therapy at Universidade Lusófona, the University of Barcelona, and Université Paris Cité, a programme that combines digital behavior, mental health, and applied technology.
Previously, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences in Computer Control and Computer Science at Riga Technical University. Alongside her studies, Laura has worked as a Senior IT Risk Assurance Specialist, where she assessed IT controls and supported risk-focused analysis, and also has experience as a programming educator and translator.
Laura’s current research interests focus on the responsible use of digital tools and AI in mental health contexts, especially in relation to crisis response, accessibility, and ethical implementation.
At UNU-CRIS, Laura’s internship will center on building and testing a pilot AI chatbot that supports Psychological First Aid for people affected by climate-related disasters. The project researches how a safety-compliant local AI model can help provide psychological support in contexts where communication infrastructure is limited or disrupted. The prototype developed in this context will contribute to the design and feasibility assessment of safe AI approaches in the context of climate change.