Hey there 👋
I'm Alicia Thoney
Passionate Problem-Solver | Graduate Student
I'm currently pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Engineering at the University of Central Florida, and I have my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. My passion lies not just in building innovative solutions but also in empowering the next generation of technologists through education. Whether it's mentoring students in programming fundamentals or deep-diving into advanced digital systems, I'm committed to making technology accessible and exciting for everyone.
Educational Outreach
Empowering the next generation of technologists with engaging curriculum
NWCCD Software Development Camp

NWCCD Software Development Camp

For the past two years, I’ve co-led the NWCCD Software Development Camp, introducing junior high students to programming. Through hands-on projects using Micro:bits and the Makecode Arcade platform, students learn foundational coding skills and explore real-world applications.

CSTA Conference Micro:bit Workshop

CSTA Conference Micro:bit Workshop

During the 2023 Wyoming Computer Science Teachers' Association (CSTA) conference, I presented a workshop on implementing project-based learning with Micro:bits. This workshop was designed to help educators integrate coding and computational thinking into their curriculum with BBC Micro:bit resources.

2023
CSTA
COWGIRLS in STEM

COWGIRLS in STEM

COWGIRLS in STEM is an outreach and mentorship program that empowers and encourages young women in Wyoming to enter the STEM fields, particularly computer science. I helped develop the curriculum and led the Computer Science portion of this camp while also supporting the other STEM activities.

The Artful Craft of Science (TACoS)

The Artful Craft of Science (TACoS)

The Artful Craft of Science (TACoS) is a one-week camp for rising 5th and 6th graders hosted by the University of Wyoming. I contributed to and led the camp’s computer science and engineering courses, which was part of a series of hands-on, five-day classes designed to explore the intersection of art and science.

2021
2022
2023
TACoS Youtube
Software Development
A mix of client projects and passion-driven creations
Wyolution

Wyolution

At Wyolution, I supported the growth of junior developers through bi-weekly Agile sprints. I also developed browser automation scripts with Node.js and Puppeteer to streamline data scraping and reporting for the Sheridan Community Land Trust Drought Outlook.

LAMP
NodeJS
Puppeteer
Drought Outlook Report
Flora of Wyoming

Flora of Wyoming

An intuitive field guide for identifying Wyoming plants, offering search options by appearance, scientific name, and more. Designed for both botanists and plant enthusiasts, this app makes plant identification accessible and easy. Developed for the Rocky Mountain Herbarium at the University of Wyoming.

LAMP
REST APIs
Figma
Golf

Golf

An online (mobile-friendly) version of my favorite card game... especially useful when even the smallest playing cards are too big.

React
Bootstrap
Play Golf
Binary Watch

Binary Watch

Turn your Micro:bit into a watch that displays the current time in binary format. This project was created in the Makecode editor using block code as an activity for the NWCCD Software Development Camp.

Block code
See the code
Research
Advancing innovation through curiosity-driven exploration and applied solutions
Hardware Side-Channel Attack Visualization

Hardware Side-Channel Attack Visualization

Researched new ways to visualize power-based hardware side-channel attacks on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-128) through the lens of correlation power analysis (CPA) for enhanced understanding of the process. Funded by the University of Wyoming's School of Computing (Spring '24)

Threat Information Assistant (TIA)

Threat Information Assistant (TIA)

Researched Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) data feeds and data visualization techniques to build a web application that compiles and displays vulnerabilities associated with a specific software configuration. Utilizes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Known Exploited Vulnerability database to graphically display CTI leveraging the Structured Threat Information Expression (STIX) language. Funded by the CEDAR lab (Summer ’22)

Using ACL2 To Teach Students About Software Testing

Using ACL2 To Teach Students About Software Testing

Co-authored an exploration of integrating ACL2 in an educational setting to teach software testing, focused on ACL2’s tools for counter-example generation to analyze checksum algorithms for error detection. (Ruben Gamboa, Alicia Thoney)

Resume
Currently, I am pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Central Florida where I am a member of the Design of Resilient Architectures for Computing (DRACO) lab.
Take a look at some of the cool teams I have been a part of. Each opportunity added valuable skills and knowledge to my repertoire that I would love to bring to your team next!
Education

University of Central Florida

Aug 2024 to Present - Orlando, FL

Master of Science - Computer Engineering

University of Wyoming

Aug 2020 to May 2024 - Laramie, WY

Bachelor of Science - Computer Science | GPA: 4.0

Experience

Graduate Researcher

University of Central Florida / Design of Resilient Architectures for Computing (DRACO) Lab | Aug 2024 - Present

Research: Exploring advanced topics in computer engineering and software through side channel analysis. Designing and executing experiments, gathering data, and applying statistical analysis to evaluate the performance of system architecture.
Lab Management: Overseeing the configuration and upkeep of lab systems, including computing resources and network infrastructure, to ensure operational efficiency and security.
Mentorship and Collaboration: Supporting undergraduate researchers through mentorship and fostering a collaborative learning environment. Assisting in research methodologies and contributing to the success of ongoing projects.

Software Developer

Wyolution LLC | Dec 2022 - Present

PHP Migration: Led migration of web apps from PHP7.x to PHP8.x ensuring backward compatibility for smooth end-user transitions. Analyzed code bases, updated deprecated functions, and enforced PHP8.x standards.
Agile Development: Supported the onboarding and ongoing development of three junior developers, leading bi-weekly sprints aligned with project requirements.
Browser Automation: Developed Node.js scripts utilizing Puppeteer to scrape dynamic assets and automate the production of detailed reports.

Supplemental Instruction Leader/TA

University of Wyoming | Aug 2022 - Dec 2023

Curriculum Development: Enhanced student comprehension through interactive learning activities and clear explanations.
Student Support: Promoted a positive learning environment by fostering inclusivity and addressing student concerns.

Undergraduate Researcher

University of Wyoming / Cybersecurity Education and Research (CEDAR) Lab | Apr 2021 - Jun 2023

Leadership: Led a team of five undergraduate students in the development of an informational, security-focused web application.
Documentation: Coordinated the documentation and resolution of bugs.

Software Developer

Rocky Mountain Herbarium | Jun 2022 - Jun 2023

Collaborative UI/UX Design: Worked with Figma to collaboratively design UI/UX prototypes, ensuring user-friendly interactions and aesthetics.
End-to-End Implementation: Implemented design choices on both the front-end and back-end, integrating REST APIs for data handling in the digital field guide for Wyoming's flora.

Critical Infrastructure Security Intern

Idaho National Laboratory | Jun 2021 - Oct 2021

Analysis: Supported structured and unstructured threat analysis.
Research and Reporting: Utilized open-source tools to create reports and conduct research.

Skills
Languages

Python, PHP, C++, JavaScript, SQL, Bash, Java, Kotlin, Go, GraphQL, HTML5, CSS

Frameworks

Next.js, React, Redux, Bootstrap, Tailwind CSS, Flask, Puppeteer, NodeJS, LAMP

Tools & Platforms

Git, Github, Bitbucket, Vercel, Docker, Figma, DDEV, AWS Amplify, Linux, Windows

Soft Skills

Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Attention to Detail, Public Speaking, Leadership

Awards
  • College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Outstanding Senior - 2024
  • Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Honor Book Award - 2023
  • Wyoming Educator Hackathon Winner - 2022
  • Walmart Girls Who Code Scholarship Recipient - 2021
  • Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Freshman - 2021
  • University of Wyoming Trustees' Scholarship - 2020
© 2024 Alicia Thoney