Ben Gilbert

Full Stack Developer

I'm a third-year computer science student at the University of Sheffield with a passion for cyber security, networking, and web development.

01. About

My coding journey began at the age of eight, experimenting with simple scripts in Scratch. As my confidence grew, I transitioned to Python, creating small tools to automate everyday tasks. This curiosity led me to explore web development, and soon after, cybersecurity. I enjoyed not only building websites but also identifying and addressing their vulnerabilities, continuously learning and improving along the way.

During my time at Sheffield University, I've strengthened my core knowledge of computer science while gaining practical experience through collaborative projects and real-world challenges. A standout experience was taking part in HackSheffield, a 24-hour hackathon, where my team and I built a web app designed to support food distribution for those in need. While we didn't take first place, we won a t-shirt each from GitHub for our effective use of git.

Skills

JavaScript / TypeScript

Python

Java

C++

Ruby

Haskell

SvelteKit

Tailwind

FastAPI

Socket.io

React

Vue.js

Flask

02. Experience

Sep 2024 - Present

Avis Drone Labs

As a member of Avis Drone Labs, a student-led project at the University of Sheffield, I have played a key role in advancing our UAV technology for the American SUAS competition through the following contributions:

Synthetic Data Generation for Image Classification: Developed a Blender simulation to generate aerial images from 30 metres above ground, providing accurate training data for our machine learning model.

Autonomous Flight Programming: Utilised ArduPlane and the MAVLink protocol to program our UAV for fully autonomous missions, including complex waypoint navigation and precise payload deliveries.

Aerial Mapping: Integrated a GoPro Hero 11 with our UAV using Python to automate high-resolution image capture for real-time terrain mapping and analysis during flight.

Additionally, I'm part of the team developing Falcon Ground Control Station (FGCS), another student-led project focused on building a modern, open-source ground control station for ArduPilot aircraft.

Jun 2025 - Sep 2025

Cyber Summer School

I completed a 10-week government-run Cyber Summer School which combined expert-led lectures, technical workshops, and structured projects simulating real-world cyber threats. I gained hands-on experience in penetration testing, malware analysis, ethical hacking, and digital forensics - building both my technical capabilities and my understanding of cybersecurity.