I’m a UX researcher with a background in Social and Cognitive Psychology. Originally from Lithuania, I’ve been based in the Netherlands for over six years. My work is driven by curiosity, collaboration and empathy. I’m committed to understanding human behaviour and turning it into insights that create excellent, inclusive customer experiences.

goda.simkonyte@gmail.com

Professional experience

UX Research Intern | IKEA

Sept 2024 - Aug 2025

Focus and activities:

  • Conducted over 50 interviews, uncovering key insights that enhanced customer engagement and loyalty, and optimised customer experience.

  • Played an active role in two 5-day design sprints, working in a multidisciplinary team to create and validate the integration of rewards in business platforms to encourage user engagement.

  • Presented research findings through reports, workshops, and presentations, contributing to data-driven decision-making in UX and product strategy.

  • Consulted stakeholders by leveraging academic literature and internal research to provide strategic guidance, enhance internal knowledge, and inform product development.

  • Planned, scoped, and managed UX research projects using a range of methods, including interviews, card sorting, and tree testing.

  • Performed accessibility research to ensure inclusive and user-friendly experiences.

Research Assistant | Delft University of Technology

Feb 2024 - May 2025

Certificates

UX Research at Scale: Surveys, Analytics, Online Testing | University of Michigan (Coursera)

May 2025

Focus and activities:

  • Explored large-scale UX research methods, including survey design, behavioural analytics, and A/B testing.

  • Gained practical skills in designing, conducting, and interpreting quantitative research to inform product decisions at scale.

Education

Focus and activities:

  • The program focused on applying Cognitive Psychology to real-world challenges, including human-centred design, decision-making, and behaviour change.

  • Made a business proposal for using VR for work onboarding and pitched it to the stakeholders.

  • Developed an evidence-based plan to improve the work performance of a customer success manager in a tech company.

Methods:

  • User interviews

  • Usability testing

  • Card sorting

  • Tree testing

  • Survey

Tools:

  • Dovetail

  • Usertesting

  • Userlytics

  • Dscout

  • Miro

  • Optimal Workshop

Focus and activities:

  • Contributed to a research project focused on developing an eHealth application designed to support smoking cessation and promote physical activity.

  • My role involved delivering personalised feedback to participants to foster behavioural change, enhance motivation, and sustain long-term engagement.

MSc Applied Cognitive Psychology (Cum Laude) | Leiden University

Sep 2022 - Feb 2025

Courses:

  • Psychology of Digital Design | 8.5

  • Improving Human Performance in Practice |8

  • Evidence-Based Cognitive Enhancement | 8.5

  • Economic Psychology | 8.5

  • Environmental Psychology | 9.5

  • The Art of Applying Psychology | 8.5

  • Master’s Thesis | 9

  • Internship | 9

Master's Thesis | Education on the history of slavery in museums: there is no learning without emotions

  • Measured visitors’ emotions, eye-tracking behaviours, and learning when exploring slavery related artworks with different descriptive texts in the Rijksmuseum.

  • Collected and analysed data from interviews, eye-tracking, and surveys.

  • The findings informed exhibit text revisions at the Rijksmuseum, enhancing visitor engagement and improving education on the history of slavery.

MSc Psychology: Social Influence | University of Amsterdam

Sep 2022 - Feb 2025

Focus and activities:

  • The program focuses on applying social psychology to real-world challenges in marketing, policy-making, and digital communication.

  • It examines the psychological mechanisms underlying social influence, behaviour change, and decision-making.

  • Did a market research project focused on increasing the use of reusable menstrual products to reduce plastic waste.

Courses:

  • Behavioural Influence | 8

  • Developing Interventions | 8

  • Applying Research Methods | 7.5

  • Emotional Influence | 7

  • Master’s Thesis | 7.5

  • Internship | 8.5

Master's Thesis | Perceived Racial Status Threat, Social Dominance Orientation and Trust in Use of AI in Criminal Justice. What Predicts Trust in AI?

  • Investigated predictors of trust in the use of AI in the criminal justice field.

  • Performed statistical analysis on data from over 1,000 respondents.

BSc Psychology: Brain & Cognition track | Radboud University

Sep 2019 - Aug 2022

Focus and activities:

  • The program focused on cognitive processes, social Psychology, statistics, neuroscience, and human behaviour.

  • Developed skills in experimental research, data analysis, interviewing, and psychological assessment.

Volunteering

Focus and activities:

  • Taught English lessons to Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands, prepared teaching materials, and supported fellow teachers.

  • This experience enhanced my ability to overcome language barriers and adapt teaching methods to diverse skill and knowledge levels.

Scout leader

Sep 2016 - Aug 2020

Focus and activities:

  • Planned and led educational activities, camps, hikes, and events for children aged 10 to 14 as a scout leader.

Volunteer at Ordin of Malta

Sep 2017 - Sep 2018

Focus and activities:

  • Organised activities for individuals with visual impairments and children with cognitive disabilities.

  • Provided personalised support to visually impaired individuals based on their needs.

English teacher for Ukrainian Refugees in the Netherlands

Jan 2023 - Jul 2023

Interested in working together?

Contact me