Tom Shaw

Tom Shaw is a full-time Lecturer in Cyber Security at the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, Leeds Beckett University. He has been deeply involved with the university since his undergraduate studies in Computer Forensics & Security starting in 2013, contributing as a software developer, security tester, and Ph.D. candidate focused on innovative cyber security education tools.

His research interests center on the design and development of practical cyber security scenarios, with a focus on automatic and randomized problem generation. Key areas include:

• Dynamic scenario generation via the SecGen framework
• Real-time detection of learner progress in cyber challenges
• Integration of game environments with virtualized systems for cyber-physical security modeling
• Applications in teaching, assessments, and extracurricular Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions

His innovations support cyber security education from high school to graduate levels.

Tom contributes to the Hacktivity Cyber Security Labs and the Cybercrime and Security Innovation Centre. He teaches modules such as Digital Security Landscapes, Incident Response and Investigation, Advanced Digital Security, Advanced Exploitation, and Production Project. His work bridges academic research and practical implementation, enhancing cyber security pedagogy through technical innovation.

He is currently a Ph.D. candidate, building on his earlier work with the SecGen project. Tom has played a key role in organizing numerous CTF events and developing technical solutions for realistic, scalable hacking challenges. His research outputs serve as a valuable resource for educators, event organizers, and researchers in cyber security education.