Decision
Why I Chose Oxford & Study Abroad
The moment I saw the opportunity to study at one of the world's most prestigious universities, I knew I had to pursue it. Here's what drew me to Oxford and how I made the leap.
Welcome — I build intelligent systems, automate security controls, and engineer AI workflows.
Sarah Morshed
Halifax, Canada
Machine learning projects, hands-on security investigations, industry experience, and riveting Oxford stories.
AI, Security & Automation Focus
Designing autonomous workflows and event-driven pipelines to automate threat detection, security auditing, and incident response.
See related work →About Me
I’m building security for systems that don’t stand still. My focus is cybersecurity shaped by artificial intelligence—where attack surfaces shift, scale, and learn. I approach security with both a technical lens and a systems mindset, grounded in real-world experience across enterprise networks, infrastructure, and operations.
I’ve worked inside the environments I aim to protect—supporting enterprise systems across North America, securing network infrastructure for hundreds of users, and contributing to data governance and technology strategy decisions at the executive level. First student selected for the University of Oxford Study Abroad Program and awarded the Leacross Foundation Leadership Scholarship. I combine a strong analytical foundation from my Math minor and academic distinction with the ability to lead, collaborate, and deliver under pressure. I’m driven to shape how organizations defend against what’s next as AI redefines both risk and resilience.
Graduated with Distinction
Minor in Mathematics
Oxford Study Abroad Program
Dalhousie Certificate in Communication Technologies & Cyber Security
Security Focus
Cybersecurity across systems, infrastructure, and risk, addressing AI-driven threats and modern security challenges.
CS Graduate
Bachelor of Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics from Dalhousie University.
Oxford Scholar
First Dalhousie CS student selected for the Oxford Study Abroad Program.
Technical Skills
AI & Machine Learning
Large Language Models (LLMs)Agentic WorkflowsModel Context Protocol (MCP)Prompt EngineeringPydantic AIData PipelinesMLOpsCI/CD
Security & Networking
NmapMetasploitWiresharkTCP/IPDNSARPVulnerability AssessmentNetwork EnumerationLinux Security Fundamentals
Cloud & Systems
AWS FundamentalsIAMLinux CLIActive DirectorySharePoint Governance
Programming
PythonJavaSQLPowerShellJavaScriptMATLABPHPGit
Tools & Platforms
ServiceNowMicrosoft 365ConnectWiseSplunkKubernetesGitHub
AI & Security Projects
MCP-Enabled Cloud Risk & Compliance Agent
ViewEngineered a deterministic, MCP-enabled Agentic AI workflow utilizing Python to autonomously ingest and triage complex AWS IAM infrastructure configurations[cite: 2]. Designed a hybrid compound AI system featuring a programmatic Python rule engine for zero-hallucination vulnerability detection, leveraging OpenAI's structured outputs (Pydantic) for contextual risk analysis and automating the generation of JSON-formatted least-privilege remediations.
PythonMCPOpenAIAWS IAMPydantic
Metasploitable 2 Vulnerability Assessment & Exploitation
ViewPerformed network enumeration using Nmap, identified vulnerable services, and executed controlled exploits with Metasploit including Samba CVE-2007-2447 to gain remote shell access. Evaluated system privilege exposure and documented security hardening recommendations.
NmapMetasploitSambaCVE-2007-2447Linux
Wireshark Network Traffic Analysis & Protocol Investigation
ViewAnalyzed packet captures to diagnose TCP retransmissions, detect ARP spoofing indicators, investigate DNS anomalies, and reconstruct FTP sessions to recover authentication artifacts.
WiresharkTCP/IPARPDNSFTP
AWS S3 Security Hardening (End-to-End)
ViewSecured an AWS S3 environment for a production-like use case by implementing least-privilege IAM access, bucket policies, encryption enforcement, folder-level isolation, activity logging, monitoring, and real-time alerts for destructive actions. Validated access controls through CLI-based testing and blocked all public access.
AWS S3IAMBucket PoliciesCloudTrailCloudWatchSNSAWS CLIEncryption
AWS IAM Policy for S3 Access Control
ViewBuilt and tested a least-privilege IAM policy for Amazon S3 that restricted access to object downloads only. Scoped permissions precisely to S3 resources, attached the policy to an IAM user, and validated allowed and denied actions through AWS CLI testing to confirm secure access behavior.
AWS IAMAmazon S3Least PrivilegeIAM PoliciesAWS CLIAccess ControlCloud Security
Experience
Technical Support Engineer Co-op
SolutionInc.- Monitored and troubleshot network and connectivity issues, supporting reliable access for 100s of users.
- Responded to incidents and service requests, following structured triage and escalation processes.
- Collaborated with internal teams to resolve issues efficiently while maintaining clear communication.
IT Operations Specialist Co-op
High Liner Foods- Delivered Tier 1–2 technical support across Canada and the U.S., triaging and resolving incidents using ServiceNow.
- Maintained and improved IT service workflows and dashboards, supporting operational efficiency.
- Migrated 250+ intranet pages to SharePoint with governance controls, improving data security and access management.
- Tested backend workflows to ensure reliability and accuracy of enterprise systems.
- Evaluated ERP integration vendors and presented technical analysis to leadership, supporting decision-making.
FCS Student Engagement Leader
Dalhousie Faculty of Computer Science- Improved communication strategies using data-driven insights, increasing engagement by 20%.
- Led cross-functional initiatives and events, strengthening collaboration across teams.
Vice President
Dalhousie Golden Key Honour Society- Recognized among top 15% of students and part of global honor society.
- Co-led operations and organized major events including blood drives, charity, and innovation panels.
Women in STEM Society Mentor
Dalhousie University- Mentored students in technical and academic development promoting professional growth in STEM.
Achievements & Recognition
Graduated with Distinction
Dalhousie University, Bachelor of Computer Science
Minor in Mathematics
Complementary analytical foundation
Dalhousie Certificate in Communication Technologies & Cyber Security
Specialized credential in security and communications
Oxford Study Abroad Program
First Dal CS student selected for University of Oxford exchange
Leacross Foundation Leadership Scholarship
$10,000 awarded for leadership and academic excellence
Featured on Dal News
University media coverage for Oxford selection
Golden Key International Honour Society
Top 15% of students
Cybersecurity – Growth Edition (Skills for Hire Atlantic)
Digital Nova Scotia 2026 · Final Score: 95%
Conferences & Community
DEFSEC Atlantic
Conference
NorthSec Cybersecurity Conference & CTF
Conference & CTF
Atlantic Security Conference
Conference
NASA International Space Apps Challenge
Hackathon
ShiftKey Women in Tech Hackathon
Judge / Mentor
Oxford Stories
Reflections from my time at the University of Oxford as the first Dalhousie CS student in the Study Abroad Program.
Academics
What I Studied & the Tutorial System
Oxford's tutorial system was unlike anything I'd experienced. Intensive one-on-one discussions with professors and a pace that pushed my thinking.
Community
Famous Icons & A Tech Giant
From conversations with global leaders to an exclusive London event, my time at Oxford was shaped by a vibrant community and experiences that felt both exuberant and meaningful.
Culture
English & Oxonian traditions
Formal hall dinners, sub fusc gowns, and punting on the Thames. The centuries-old traditions at Oxford were mesmerizing and wonderfully disorienting.
Reflection
From the Bodleian Oath to Unexpected Encounters
Some of my most defining moments at Oxford, from taking the Bodleian Library Oath to an unexpected meeting with Trinity’s first female president, shaped how I now reflect on my journey.
Get In Touch
I'm always interested in discussing cybersecurity, new opportunities, and collaborative projects. Feel free to reach out!