Resume

Cagan Arda Ozkan • +44 7751 553230 • cagansoftwareengineering@outlook.com
LinkedIn • Portfolio • GitHub

Summary

Software engineering student focused on full‑stack and AI products. Experience building AI assistants, education tooling, and mentorship marketplace features with modern web stacks (Next.js, Prisma, Stripe, Firebase). Passionate about scalable product architecture, developer experience, and learning technologies like Web3 and VR.

Experience

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Jun 2024 – Aug 2024
Software Engineering Fellow
Headstarter AI
Remote
  • Collaborated in cross-functional teams to design and implement AI-driven solutions for commercial clients.
  • Developed an AI support chatbot for Nike footwear products leveraging natural language understanding for tailored product recommendations.
  • Built an AI flashcard generator using NLP to convert arbitrary text into structured study decks.
  • Applied Agile practices (sprint planning, retros) to refine requirements and deliver incremental value.
Jan 2025 – Present
Teaching Assistant
Lancaster University – Computer Science Dept.
Lancaster, UK
  • Assist in weekly programming labs for 30+ students covering Java, Python, and algorithm fundamentals.
  • Guide debugging and problem‑solving sessions strengthening understanding of data structures and software design.
  • Collaborate with faculty to iterate on lab materials aligning exercises with lecture learning outcomes.

Projects

Portfolio Website (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)

  • Personal site showcasing skills, certifications, and project work.
  • Optimized performance & UX with responsive design and code splitting.

Inventory Tracker Web App (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)

  • Dynamic inventory management with add, delete, and search features.
  • Implemented client-side state management for seamless interactions.

Dapper – Graph Analysis Tool (Java)

  • CLI application mapping & analyzing large graph node‑edge relationships.
  • Optimized traversal with efficient data structures for performance.

Online Voting Tool (Python)

  • Secure voting management system enabling encrypted ballots & tallying.
  • Added input validation and audit logging for integrity & transparency.

GenFlashcards AI (Next.js, Firebase, Vercel)

  • AI-powered flashcard generator transforming raw notes into structured decks.
  • Real-time sync via Firebase; deployed on Vercel for rapid iteration.
  • Early peer adoption indicating scalable EdTech potential.

Mentoro – Mentorship Marketplace (Next.js, PostgreSQL, Prisma, TypeScript, Stripe)

  • Full‑stack platform connecting students with private tutors; integrated Stripe for secure payments.
  • Designed scalable PostgreSQL schema (Prisma ORM) hosted on Neon.
  • Implemented booking, reviews, and messaging to simulate production SaaS.

Education

Sep 2023 – Jun 2026
Lancaster University
Lancaster, UK
BSc Computer Science
  • Coursework emphasis: algorithms, data structures, software engineering, databases, distributed systems.
  • Teaching Assistant (from Jan 2025) supporting programming labs.
Sep 2021 – Jun 2023
Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Lancaster, UK
A Levels
  • Subjects: Computer Science, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics.
  • Engaged in early software projects and foundational algorithm study.

Technical Skills

Languages
Java, JavaScript, Python, SQL, C, C++, HTML, CSS, TypeScript
Frameworks & Libraries
React, Next.js, Vite.js
Tools & Platforms
Git, GitHub, VS Code, Firebase, Vercel, Neon, Stripe, PostgreSQL, Prisma
Areas of Interest
Full‑Stack Development, Blockchain & Web3, Virtual Reality