UNF computer science student turns career pivot into research and fintech success

When computer science major Shirley Chen began her journey at the University of North Florida, she was pursuing a new direction far from the career path she originally envisioned.

After earning a bachelor's degree in interior design from Pratt Institute in 2021 and working in the design field, she returned to the classroom to pursue a career in technology.

The decision paid off. Through academic achievement, undergraduate research and internships with Mercedes-Benz USA and Goldman Sachs, Chen has built an impressive resume while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

This December, she will graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer science and Honors in Computing, reflecting her commitment to academic excellence and undergraduate research.

Transitioning From Interior Design to Computer Science

A Jacksonville native, Chen first considered a career in interior design while attending high school at Stanton College Preparatory School, stating it combined her interests in art and design. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design, she began working for a Florida-based design firm.

While she enjoyed the creative aspects of her work, she ultimately sought a career path that offered broader opportunities across industries.

"Every industry requires computer science to some degree," said Chen. "The opportunities are limitless, and I liked the idea of being able to choose where I wanted to go."

After deciding to pursue computer science, the first-generation college student returned home and completed prerequisite coursework at Florida State College at Jacksonville before enrolling at UNF in spring 2024.

Although her initial motivation was career flexibility, she quickly discovered a passion for programming and problem solving.

"I love puzzles and figuring things out," she said. "Once I started programming, it felt like the perfect fit."

Mentorship and Research Opportunities

Chen credits UNF School of Computing faculty members Larry Snedden, Elise Marshall and Dr. Ayan Dutta for helping shape her undergraduate experience.

Interested in artificial intelligence research, she approached Dutta after taking one of his programming courses and expressed interest in participating in research despite being early in her academic career.

Beginning in fall 2025, Chen joined Dutta and graduate student collaborators on a project examining how large language model agents coordinate and communicate within multi-agent systems.

The project examined how autonomous agents coordinate and communicate in a naval capture-the-flag environment. Working with teams of simulated vessels, the researchers developed a novel framework that allows a human commander to intervene using natural language commands, enabling human oversight and strategic decision-making within multi-agent systems.

Chen's role focused on integrating front-end and back-end systems, testing functionality and ensuring the platform operated as intended.

Dutta said Chen's dedication, leadership and technical contributions played a significant role in the project's success.

"Initially, she was mostly in charge of the simulation system setup, but over time, she emerged as the lead for the project," he said.

The research reached an important milestone when the team's paper was accepted for presentation at the 2026 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics in October. Chen was surprised to discover her name appeared first on the paper as an undergraduate researcher.

"I didn't expect to have published research as an undergraduate," Chen said. "I started doing research because it sounded interesting and would help me learn."

Building Professional Experience Through Internships

In addition to coursework and research, Chen built industry experience through internships that strengthened both her technical and professional skills.

After connecting with recruiters at a UNF career fair, she earned a yearlong data product internship with Mercedes-Benz USA from April 2025 through April 2026.

Working within the company's product technical support division, Chen designed Power BI dashboards, developed data models, automated workflows and created tools that helped employees better understand and use organizational data.

Despite entering the internship with little experience using Microsoft's Power Platform, she quickly adapted and developed solutions that were ultimately adopted by her department.

The experience taught her more than technical skills.

"I learned how to take ownership of projects and present my work to others," Chen said.

That foundation helped prepare her for her next opportunity.

During summer 2026, Chen completed a competitive 10-week internship with Goldman Sachs in Dallas, Texas, as a risk engineering analyst within the firm's Market Risk Engineering division.

There, she helped develop Argus, an interactive dashboard combining multiple business domains with AI-powered capabilities that allow users to ask questions, identify trends and analyze risk metrics more efficiently.

Chen also monitored market risk metrics, participated in risk reviews and collaborated with colleagues across Dallas, New York, London and Bangalore.

The experience introduced her to the financial technology sector and reinforced her interest in combining software engineering, data analytics and finance.

"I really enjoyed the culture and the people," Chen said. "Everyone was willing to help, and it was a great place to learn."

Making the Most of the UNF Experience

Chen says one of the biggest lessons she learned at UNF is the importance of taking advantage of opportunities beyond the classroom. She credits UNF Career Services staff, faculty mentors and campus organizations for helping her prepare for the workforce.

Whether participating in undergraduate research, attending career fairs, joining student organizations or pursuing internships, she believes students should never hesitate to get involved.

"My advice to students is to join clubs and be a part of things," said Chen. "Don't ever think you're doing too much. Those experiences help you stand out in terms of gaining internships and other opportunities."

Chen has been an active participant in several campus organizations throughout her UNF tenure. She joined the Society for Women Advancing Technology and Computing (SWAT) in fall 2024, serving in several leadership positions, including event manager, secretary and vice president. In spring 2025, she joined Upsilon Pi Epsilon, an invitation-only academic honor society, and received the 2025 UPE Scholarship Award. She also became a member of UNF's chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Starting a new chapter

As she approaches graduation, Chen is proud of how far she has come, from changing career paths to gaining real-world experiences at globally recognized organizations.

"I'm excited to reach this milestone," she said. "I've been able to make my parents proud, gain valuable experience with two internships and earn a job from this experience."

Chen recently accepted a full-time offer from Goldman Sachs to work as an engineering analyst in the firm's Dallas office starting February 2027.

"This opportunity means so much to me," said Chen. "To see all of my hard work lead to this moment is something I'm truly grateful for."