Principal is bounded by one common purpose: to give you the financial tools, resources, and information you need to live your best life. Students on the Principal team will design and deliver an investment/financial planning tool informed by significant research into the user needs specific to Gen Z investors.
Abstract:
Principal is bounded by one common purpose: to give you the financial tools, resources, and information you need to live your best life. We do this through best-in-class retirement services, insurance solutions, and asset management services for businesses and individuals. As Gen Z begins to plan their financial future, new education and support tools need to be created. These will meet the unique needs, desires, and preferred approach of this new generation. The students on the Principal team will design and deliver working versions of the new tools, informed by significant research into the user needs specific to Gen Z investors.
Successful completion of this project would demonstrate substantial database knowledge and practical skills for your resume.
Impact:
Successful completion of this project will provide our business with a set of highly refined prototype tools, suitable to conduct large scale consumer testing with, as well as enhancing our understanding of the user needs specific to Gen Z product development.
Database (1 Student)
Specific Skills: Solid understanding of database design theory and practical knowledge, General Programming front end/backend, Participation in product design and testing.
Students must have completed EECS 281 or equivalent.
Likely Majors: CS, DATA
General Programming (2-3 Students)
Specific Skills: General Programming skills front end/back end, good software engineering practice and design, AWS implementation, Participation in product design and testing.
Students must have completed EECS 281 or equivalent.
Likely Majors: CS, DATA
Product Development / Design (1-2 Students)
Specific Skills: Craft and conduct user/stakeholder interviews, translate product functionality priorities into a product design, Design and conduct focus group testing of product.
(Students must have basic coding skills and be prepared participate in technical development at times)
Likely Majors: BBA with CS minor, CS with BBA minor
UI / UX (1 Student)
Specific Skills: Craft and conduct user/stakeholder interviews, collect user needs data, develop a range of personas to accurately reflect the demographics of the user group. Develop UI that adheres to best practice in UI/UX design. Design and conduct focus group testing of product.
(Students must have basic coding/prototyping skills and be prepared to participate in technical development at times)
Likely Majors: SI (Grad) A&D Graphics
Sponsor Mentor
Hala Shakra
Director of Enterprise Innovation Architecture
Hala has over 15 years of hands-on experience in building digital products and innovation solutions that enable organizations to adapt to the changing digital landscape. Hala joined Principal about a year ago, and is currently working in Enterprise Innovation Architecture leveraging new technologies and trends to improve customer experience and optimize business processes. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, and reading philosophy books.
Executive Mentor
Tony Tavegia
Business Information Security Officer
In his 27 years at Principal, Tony has delivered and led in technology, information security, and technical strategist roles. Currently, Tony works in the insurance innovation group, mentoring novel and startup-related ideas and helping them find their opportunity in real implementations. Tony has previously mentored successful MDP projects, and his outside interests include photography and 3D printing.
Faculty Mentor
Marcus Darden
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Prof. Marcus M. Darden is an Educator, Programmer, Maker, and Musician with decades of experience in each role. He is always in search of an opportunity to take something and make it better or to just create something from nothing.
Course Substitutions: CE MDE, ChE Elective, CS Capstone/MDE, EE MDE, CoE Honors, SI Grad Cognate
Citizenship Requirements:
- This project is open to all students
- International students on an F-1 visa will be required to declare part-time CPT during Winter 2023 and Fall 2023 terms. To learn more about this including eligibility, see our information page
IP/NDA: Students will sign IP/NDA document(s) that are unique to Principal.
Internship/Summer Opportunity:
- Students who qualify and meet the below criteria will be guaranteed interviews for 2023 internships. The interviews will take place by January 2023.
- GPA: All technology internship roles have a cumulative 2.8 GPA minimum requirement
- Work Authorization/Sponsorship: At this time, Principal is not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role. (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.)
- Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.