Maria Lungu is a postdoctoral research fellow at UVA's Digital Technology for Democracy Lab. Lungu's research focuses on the intersection of law, public policy/administration, and artificial intelligence. Specifically, she examines the accuracy of risk-assessment tools in criminal justice administration, emphasizing democratic principles of fairness and accountability. Her focus also includes the application of AI in policing and court systems, where she investigates AI usage to enhance decision-making processes, improve efficiency, and ensure justice. She also explores the sociopolitical implications of predictive policing in administrative processes and their impact on public opinion. 

Lungu's work has been published in the Journal of AI Law and Regulation, Review of Black Political Economy, Administrative Theory and Praxis, and the American Journal of Qualitative Research, among other journals.

Lungu has gained valuable experience working in the misdemeanor trial division for the Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office in Nashville, TN. She also has been a legal consultant at Stepping Stones International and the United Nations and is currently a research and teaching fellow at the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy (CAIDP).

Lungu holds a bachelor's of science in finance and business administration with a minor in leadership from the University of Charleston. She earned her JD from the University of Tennessee College of Law, an MBA from Belmont University, and a PhD from Florida Atlantic University.