CURRICULUM VITAE · v2026.08

Alex Gaffen

Hamilton, ON 4th-year Honours CS @ McMasterOpen to AI & Cybersecurity roles
Hire / Collaborate
Coding Since
2021
~5 years building software
Industry · Research
14+ mo
Co-op, RA & freelance
Shipped Projects
10+
Full-stack · AI · Systems
Stack Highlights
C++ · Py · React
+ Docker, PyTorch, Flask
Experience Projects Skills Certs Awards

EDUCATION

Honours Computer Science Co-op (B.A.Sc.)

2022-Present
McMaster University

McMaster University, Hamilton ON

Honours Computer Science Co-op (B.A.Sc.)
📅 Currently Enrolled in 4th Year

Relevant CS Coursework:

  • 🔄 (A-) COMPSCI 4SD3: Data-Driven Algorithms for Sequential Decision Making
  • 🐞 (A-) COMPSCI 3S03: Software Testing
  • 🔐 (A-) COMPSCI 4CR3: Applied Cryptography
  • 🔧 (A+) COMPSCI 3TB3: Syntax-Based Tools & Compilers
  • 🌍 (B+) COMPSCI 3N03: Computer Networks and Security
  • 🧠 (A-) COMPSCI 3MI3: Principles of Programming Languages
  • ⚙️ (A-) COMPSCI 3SH3: Operating Systems
  • 🧮 (A+) COMPSCI 2XC3: Algorithms and Software Design
  • 🖥️ (A-) COMPSCI 2GA3: Computer Architecture
  • 🌐 (A-) COMPSCI 1XD3: Intro to Software Using Web Programming
  • 🛠️ (A+) COMPSCI 1XC3: Development Basics
  • 💻 (A) COMPSCI 1MD3: Introduction to Programming
  • 🔢 (A) COMPSCI 1DM3: Discrete Math for Computer Science
  • 🎲 (A) STATS 2D03: Intro to Probability
  • 📊 (A-) MATH 1ZB3: Engineering Mathematics II-A
  • ➗ (A) MATH 1ZA3: Engineering Mathematics I
  • 📐 (A-) MATH 1B03: Linear Algebra 1

EXPERIENCE

AI & Full Stack Developer - Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jan. 2026 – Present

McMaster University – Wang Lab, Hamilton, ON

AI & Full Stack Developer - Undergraduate Research Assistant
Python
Flask
React
UI/UX
Algorithms
Debugging
Software Architecture
  • Architecting an end-to-end AI-powered clinical tool alongside PhD researchers for automated liver fibrosis quantification and diagnosis from medical imaging.
  • Building the full stack application with a React frontend and Python/Flask backend, integrating deep learning models into a streamlined diagnostic pipeline.

Front End Developer Intern

Summer 2024

Bonbon Technologies, Los Angeles, California (Remote)

Front End Developer Intern
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Svelte
Front End Dev
Debugging
  • Completed a work term of 4 months during the summer of 2024.
  • Consistently met project deadlines utilizing the Svelte framework, Git, and GitHub to design and deploy web components that enhanced user engagement and registration for a loyalty program.
  • Showcased adaptability and initiative during last minute design changes by other departments.
  • Discussed business strategy and innovative AI solutions to reach a wider audience.

Lifeguard & Pool Supervisor

Summer 2023

City of Ottawa, Ottawa ON

Lifeguard & Pool Supervisor
Leadership
Mentorship
Conflict Mediation
Scheduling
  • Practiced strong interpersonal and leadership skills in mentoring less experienced lifeguards while having to adapt changing policy and safety standards to ensure safety for all patrons.
  • Exercised patience and compassion as the mediator for conflict resolution between children.
  • Adhered to safety procedures set out by City of Ottawa for working with chlorine, cleaning up dangerous objects routinely, resulting in no injuries or issues.
  • Created an efficient task schedule for workers every morning to streamline opening procedures.

Computer Science High School Tutor

Fall 2022

Hamilton, ON (Remote)

Computer Science High School Tutor
Teaching
Python
Java
Algorithms
Debugging
  • Delivered comprehensive instruction on the Ontario ICS3U and ICS4U curriculum, covering fundamental programming concepts and logic.
  • Facilitated deep technical understanding by breaking down complex algorithms, memory management concepts, and data structures into digestible, practical examples.
  • Cultivated independent problem-solving skills through guided debugging sessions and code reviews, emphasizing clean syntax and efficient software design principles.
  • Customized lesson plans to adapt to the student’s learning pace, resulting in improved academic performance and confidence in completing major capstone projects.

PROJECTS

Mock Market

Personal Project

Full Stack Investor Practice Website

Mock Market
React
Node.js
C++
Docker
Firebase
  • Designed a full-stack microservices application simulating stock market trading with a React frontend and Node.js backend.
  • Implemented secure Google Authentication and real-time stock data retrieval using the Finnhub API.
  • Developed a C++ service for algorithmic analysis to provide trading signals, integrated via Docker containers.
  • Utilized Firebase for robust user authentication and portfolio data storage, allowing users to track virtual investment performance.

Ghost Shell

Personal Project

Autonomous AI Honeypot Agent

Ghost Shell
Python
Go
Docker
Linux
SSH
  • Developing an autonomous AI agent in Python that prototypes intelligent automation by planning and executing commands via an LLM-driven reasoning loop.
  • Built a custom Go-based terminal emulator and virtual honey-filesystem to provide a high-fidelity, sandboxed environment for capturing and analyzing malicious activity.

Networked Battle Game

Final Project (A+)

Course: Computer Networks and Security

Networked Battle Game
C
Socket Programming
Client-Server Architecture
  • Developed a client-server game in C as the final project for Computer Networks and Security course.
  • Implemented socket programming and network protocols to manage real-time data exchange and communication between multiple clients.

Matrix Visualizer Web App

Grade Received: A-

Team Collaboration (6 members)

Matrix Visualizer Web App
Elm
UX/UI Design Principles
  • Collaborated in a team of 6 to design and code graphing software using Elm language.
  • Followed UX and UI design principles for ease of use and aesthetic purposes.

AWARDS

McMaster University Award of Excellence

2023

McMaster University — Entrance Scholarship ($3,000)

McMaster University Award of Excellence
  • Awarded for outstanding academic achievement upon admission.

Euclid Mathematics Contest

2022

University of Waterloo — 1st Place in School

Euclid Mathematics Contest
  • Achieved the highest score among all participants at my high school in this nationally recognized contest.

Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest

2021

University of Waterloo — 1st Place in School

Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest
  • Earned the top score at my high school in the CSMC, a national-level competition for senior students.

SKILLS

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES & TOOLS

Python
C/C++
Bash
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
React
Node.js
Svelte
Unix / Linux
Git / GitHub
Docker
VS Code
Firebase

CYBERSECURITY & NETWORKING

Firewalls / VPNs
Network Protocols
Socket Programming
Network Security
Cisco Equipment
OSI Model

INTERPERSONAL & LEADERSHIP

Communication
Team Leadership
Problem-Solving
Conflict Mediation

CERTIFICATIONS

Deep Learning Specialization

Dec 2025 – Present

DeepLearning.AI (Coursera) — 5-Course Specialization by Andrew Ng

Deep Learning Specialization
TensorFlow
Keras
Python
  • Neural Networks & Deep Learning — foundations of deep learning and neural network architectures.
  • Improving Deep Neural Networks — hyperparameter tuning, regularization, and optimization (Adam, RMSprop, batch norm).
  • Structuring Machine Learning Projects — ML strategy, error analysis, and transfer learning best practices.
  • Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) — image recognition, object detection (YOLO), and neural style transfer.
  • Sequence Models (RNNs/LSTMs) — NLP, attention mechanisms, and transformer architectures.

PyTorch for Deep Learning

Dec 2025 – Present

DeepLearning.AI (Coursera)

PyTorch for Deep Learning
PyTorch
Python
  • Building and training neural networks using PyTorch's dynamic computational graphs.
  • Implementing CNNs, RNNs, and custom model architectures with torch.nn modules.
  • GPU-accelerated training, model evaluation, and deployment workflows.

Machine Learning A-Z: AI, Python & R

Dec 2024 – Present

Udemy — Kirill Eremenko & Hadelin de Ponteves

Machine Learning A-Z: AI, Python & R
Python
R
Scikit-learn
  • Regression, classification, clustering, and association rule learning with real-world datasets.
  • Dimensionality reduction (PCA, LDA), model selection, and boosting (XGBoost).
  • Natural Language Processing and reinforcement learning fundamentals.

INTERESTS

McMaster Symphony Orchestra

2022 – Present

Violinist

McMaster Symphony Orchestra
  • Perform as a violinist with the McMaster Symphony Orchestra, rehearsing and performing orchestral repertoire throughout the academic year.

McMaster Intramural Team Sports

2023 – Present

Soccer, Pickleball, Football

McMaster Intramural Team Sports
  • Compete in intramural leagues across multiple sports, fostering teamwork and sportsmanship in a competitive environment.

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