Hi, I'm Zara!

Computer Science and Biology Student

I am an incoming third-year student at Northeastern University, where I study computer science and biology. I am currently training to become a full-stack developer. In addition to my coursework, I am currently learning React and Python to enhance my development skills further and broaden my toolkit.

In my free time, I LOVE to travel and cannot wait for my next adventure!

Get In Touch View My Work
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About Me

I was born and raised in Massachusetts, with strong Croatian roots that have shaped both my identity and outlook. From a young age, I’ve been drawn to math and science, curious about how things work, and passionate about solving complex problems. I completed the International Baccalaureate program in high school, spending time in both Boston and Zagreb, which gave me a deep appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. I’m especially interested in back-end development and the impacts of artificial intelligence, where I can combine technical precision with creativity to build thoughtful, impactful systems.

I am excited to share that starting in August, I will be in Barcelona working at Nearby Computing for my first co-op!

Experience

Software Engineering Intern
Nearby Computing
August 2025 - December 2025
At Nearby Computing, I am developing a React/TypeScript AI Agent GUI that connects to agents through APIs and the Model Context Protocol (MCP), with WebSocket-based real-time monitoring and workflow control. I will work on designing dashboards, building human-in-the-loop features like plan interruption and approval, implementing structured outputs for agent reasoning, and integrating with NearbyOne’s NBI API, Harbor container registry, and OpenRouter/Cerebras LLM services. Over 5 months, I’ll set up the development environment, prototype with dummy agents, validate communication patterns, and deliver a production-ready, extensible interface for agent orchestration.
React & TypeScript Development API Integration Real-Time Systems AI Agent Orchestration DevOps & Container Management LLM & AI Infrastructure Integration Collaborative Development Practices Python
Front Desk
HC Studio Inc
May 2024 - July 2025
As a Front Desk Assistant at HC Studio, I oversaw daily client interactions, ensuring every visit was welcoming, seamless, and professional. I managed appointment scheduling, responded to inquiries across multiple channels, and maintained precise client records, all while keeping the front desk running smoothly. This role honed my multitasking, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills, while deepening my understanding of creating exceptional customer experiences. Additionally, I supported team coordination and studio events, contributing to a collaborative and organized workplace that kept operations running effortlessly.
Customer Service
Research Internship
Massachusetts General Hospital
July 2022 - August 2022
As a Research Intern at MGH, I investigated enzymes that regulate hormone homeostasis, conducting hands-on lab work with cell cultures, mice, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. My research contributed to understanding how vitamin D influences FGF23 through the suppression of furin expression. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, I supported experimental design, technical execution, and manuscript preparation, honing my skills in scientific communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.
PCR Cell Cultures Labratory Techniques Academic Writing Gel Electrophoresis

Featured Projects

Three Trios Card Game

I implemented a turn-based strategy game in Java where two players place cards on a grid, each card having directional attack values. I designed the game model to enforce rules around card placement, turn order, and battles based on card stats. I handled loading custom board and card configurations from files, added logic for determining the game’s winner, and developed a graphical interface using Java Swing to visualize the gameplay.

Java Swing

Map Your Degree

As part of a team of four, I built a fully functional website in under 36 hours at Hackbeanpot 2025 to help students visualize and plan their academic journey. The project aimed to simplify Northeastern University’s confusing degree audit system by offering an intuitive, customizable interface for tracking graduation progress. I developed a robust backend by dynamically scraping data for all 329 majors using Python and storing it in a structured SQL database. I ensured consistency across irregular and inconsistent university pages, and contributed to the frontend by helping design and implement a user-friendly interface using Streamlit that clearly presented degree requirements and progress.

Python SQL Java Streamlit

Travel Tracker

Together with a partner, I built a full-stack application that allows users to plan, log, and view travel itineraries, supporting both past memories and future trip planning. I led the backend development using MySQL, designing a relational schema optimized for destinations, trip metadata, and user-generated notes. On the frontend, I created a responsive and intuitive graphical interface using Java and Swing, implementing seamless Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) operations. The application includes input validation, dynamic trip previews, and search functionality to enhance the overall user experience.

SQL Java Swing

Get In Touch

I'm always interested in hearing about new opportunities and interesting projects. Whether you're a company looking to hire, or you just want to say hello, I'd love to hear from you!

Say Hello