CSpotlight: It's never too late to be a computer scientist

Even though she had always been fascinated by computers, new B.A. graduate Lin Huynh was not originally planning to major in computer science. Her love for the field was reinvigorated after the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for a CSCI course, and she decided to apply to the major right before her senior year. Lin proves it's never too late to pursue your computer science dream.

Why did you choose to study computer science at the University of Minnesota?

I'm from Vietnam, however I went to high school in Saint Paul—which means I was exposed to Minnesota’s winter for a good three years before I chose to attend University! As much as I wanted to run away from the cold winters, the University of Minnesota was very appealing to me with its reputation for delivering high quality education. Also, the University granted me some scholarships that were very necessary to my budget.

What sparked your interest in computer science?

I have always been fascinated by computers since I was a kid. I joined multiple computer competitions in Vietnam and luckily had some high achievements in those competitions. I figured I must be good at computer science—and who would not be interested in something that you are good at! :)

Tell us about previous research experiences within the Department of Computer Science & Engineering.

I am grateful to have partaken in two research opportunities in the department, especially since I applied for the computer science major very late (during the summer of my senior year). For my first project, I worked with CS&E instructor Daniel Orban (under the supervision of Professor Daniel Keefe) to explore and engineer visual tools for biomedical scientists to better understand the object that they are studying. Specifically, we were working on tools to help explain factors of a cell that relate to the cell’s migration.

For another research project, I worked with assistant professor Hyun Soo Park and his Ph.D. student Yuan Yao on their OpenMonkey application. I was only involved in the collecting data part of the research, but it did teach me how intensive the data collection process can be for a computer vision application in order to have a desirable result.

What did you enjoy most about being a TA? How did you get involved with being a TA?

I was actually a TA in the department before I applied for the computer science major, and it definitely has been one of my favorite experiences at the University.

Being a TA helped me realize how much love I have for computer science. I was constantly learning new and interesting things from my students, and some of them even remained as my friends after the semester was over. The position granted me the opportunity to extend my network with people in the field, including many professors and other computer science students. I would say being able to interact with people, especially during office hours, is my favorite part of being a TA. One of my students even recognized me at a restaurant a year after I was their TA, so I guess that is a good sign!

What advice do you have for incoming computer science students?

Keep exploring! Keep asking the questions for which you want to find answers. Don’t ever be afraid to approach a TA or a professor. The Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Minnesota definitely gives us students a lot of resources for enriching our knowledge and experience, which can propel us to whatever endeavor we choose after college.

What are your plans after graduation?

I will be working as an Associate Software Development Consultant at Concord USA, a company in Hopkins, Minnesota. I guess I am stuck in Minnesota! I am also planning to come back for a Master's or even a Ph.D. degree at the University of Minnesota sometimes in the future.