Daniel Taylor

2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2023

Brigham Young University (BS, Computer Science)

• 3.9 GPA


• Minor in Design Thinking

2012 – 2016

Westlake High School (HS Diploma)

• ACT: 35

Hover mouse over abbreviations for full name, or click to jump to description (if available).

• Spanish (since 2012): LBRM, AP SP, SP3, SP2, SP1


• Java (since 2014): BYU OIT, CS 340, CS 240, CSIPH, APCS


• Python (since 2015): CS 472, CS 465, CS 312, CSIPH


• JavaScript (since 2015): BYU OIT, CSIPH


• HTML/CSS (since 2015): BYU OIT, CSIPH


• SQL (since 2015): CS 240, CSIPH


• C++ (since 2016): CS 345, CS 236, CS 235, CS 142


• C (since 2017): CS 224, CS 224, IT 515R


• R (since 2020): STAT 201, HONRS 290R

2020 – Present

Computer Programmer (BYU Office of Information Technology)

• Helped maintain and update university’s Central Authentication Service, a login platform used daily by 30,000+ students and faculty


• Used software and web development tools including AWS, Terraform, and Selenium

2015, 2016, 2019

Office Clerk, IT Assistant (Horvitz & Levy, LLP)

• Imaged, updated, and installed new HDDs to 50+ actively used workstations


• Took inventory of hardware in preparation for transfer to new facility


• Digitized and organized 100+ page legal briefs for archival purposes

2016

Computer Science Tutor (Self-employed)

• Taught programming concepts to first time programmers


• Assisted students in completing class assignments in C++

Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC)

• Participated in CCDC Midwest Invitational


• Placed 2nd in individual competition earning a spot on the BYU team


• Serving as Linux Lead for the team, attending weekly practices

Deloitte Foundation Cyber Threat Competition

• Ranked as a top competitor among BYU students in Round 1


• Chosen to compete in Round 2 in Westlake, TX in February 2023

BYU Cyberia CTF Team

• Ranked 23rd in the U.S. for 2022


• Personally participated in 12 CTFs for the team


• Wrote competition writeups to document solutions and what I learned

1st Place - BYU Fall 2022 End-of-Semester CTF

• 1st place (out of 73 individuals)

Lucid Programming Competition 2022

• 29th place (out of 526 individuals)

100th Percentile - National Cyber League Team Game (Fall 2022 Season)

• 7th place (out of 3,926 teams, max size 7)


• Contributed to university national ranking of 5th overall

99th Percentile - National Cyber League Individual Game (Fall 2022 Season)

• 78th place (out of 6,675 individuals)

Runner-Up - BYU Winter 2022 End-of-Semester CTF

2021

Introduction to Machine Learning (CS 472 - BYU)

• Used Python to implement supervised and unsupervised learning models from the ground up including perceptron, MLP, decision tree, k-nearest neighbor, k-means, and HAC models


• Researched and applied use of ML to identify Reddit users active in different mental-health related subreddits based on the contents of their posts


• Learned to use existing ML libraries such as scikit-learn

Computer Security (CS 465 - BYU)

• Studied and implemented algorithms in Python including Diffie-Hellman key exchange and AES and RSA encryption


• Studied and executed exploits based on common vulnerabilities, including buffer overflow, MAC extension, and pre-image/collision hash attacks

Operating Systems (CS 345 - BYU)

• Developed core features of an operating system in C, including a shell, multitasking, virtual memory management, task scheduling, and file management

2020

Software Design (CS 340 - BYU)

• Built a Twitter clone for Android using Java


• Implemented back end using AWS Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, and SQS

Systems Programming (CS 324 - BYU)

• Learned to use system calls in C to deal with signals, form network connections, and implement concurrent processing


• Created an HTTP proxy server

Algorithm Design & Analysis (CS 312 - BYU)

• Studied and designed algorithms using graph theory, dynamic programming, divide-and-conquer, and branch-and-bound methods; implemented in Python


• Implemented algorithms in Python

Computational Theory (CS 252 - BYU)

• Studied and designed various computational models, including finite state automata, push down automata, and Turing machines

Advanced Programming Concepts (CS 240 - BYU)

• Created an ancestry mapping app for Android in Java


• Developed a back end web server and API for the app in Java with an SQLite database

2019

Discrete Structures (CS 236 - BYU)

• Wrote programs in C++ to parse, lex, and interpret Datalog statements


• Designed finite state automata to interpret regular languages

Computer Systems (CS 224 - BYU)

• Programmed in C


• Studied data types and processing


• Worked with Assembly code

2017

Scientific Computing (IT 515R - BYU)

• Wrote programs in C++ for use on the Fulton Supercomputer


• Learned to use various development tools including Git, Slurm, and CMake


• Learned to implement optimizations including compiler settings and multi-threading

Data Structures (CS 235 - BYU)

• Learned to implement various data structures in C++, such as stacks, queues, deques, and linked lists

2016

Intro to Computer Programming (CS 142 - BYU)

• Learned the basics of C++, including the implementation of classes and methods using header files

2015 – 2016

Computer Science Independent Projects Honors (Senior Year - WHS)

• Worked independently, studying various languages including JavaScript, Python, HTML, and CSS


• Assisted AP CS students with their Java programming assignments

2014 – 2015

AP Computer Science (Junior Year - WHS)

• Learned Java and wrote programs in preparation for the AP test

• Editing


• Photography


• Investing


• Graphic Design


• Swimming


• Mechanical Keyboards


• Travel