Firmware Security Researcher · Blue Team Engineer · PhD Candidate
Abdulhakeem Ekun
Building AI-augmented firmware security analysis pipelines. Ranked #4 in the UK on Blue Team Labs Online. PhD researcher at the University of Wolverhampton. IT Lecturer at Dudley College of Technology.
Competitive Rankings
United Kingdom
BTLO — Blue Team Labs Online
Global
BTLO — Blue Team Labs Online
December 2024 Competition
FrostByte — Security Blue Team
About Me
I am a PhD researcher at the University of Wolverhampton investigating AI-augmented firmware security for Linux-based embedded devices — specifically how automated analysis pipelines bridge the gap between detecting vulnerabilities and validating real security impact.
My background combines hands-on blue team operations with firmware security research. I also teach T-Level Computing at Dudley College of Technology, building practical cyber range environments for student education.
Wolverhampton, UK
Status
Open to internships & collaborations
Institution
University of Wolverhampton
MBCS
Member, BCS
Technical Skills
Practical skills across firmware analysis, blue team operations, security monitoring, and research tooling.
Firmware & Research
Binwalk / EMBA
FIRMADYNE / FirmAE
Static Analysis
Dynamic Analysis
Fuzzing
Exploit Validation
Binary Analysis
Blue Team & SOC
Wazuh / Sysmon
DFIR
Threat Hunting
SOC Operations
Engineering & Tooling
Docker
Linux
Projects
Practical cybersecurity and research projects demonstrating hands-on engineering, blue team operations, firmware security, and education-focused security tooling.
Portable College Cyber Range
A Docker-based cyber range and CTF environment designed for students, including scoreboard workflows, practical challenges, and classroom-ready deployment.
Docker
Linux
Education
Staff Cybersecurity Awareness App
A local phishing and QR-code awareness challenge for staff training, designed around safe hands-on learning rather than passive slides.
QR Challenge
Flask
Training
SOCaaS For SMEs
A practical Security Operations Centre as a Service project designed to help small and medium-sized organisations improve security visibility, threat detection, alert triage, and incident-response readiness without requiring an enterprise-scale SOC.
SIEM
Threat Detection
Incident Response
SME Security
Education
Formal academic and teaching qualifications supporting my work in cybersecurity research, computing education, and technical training.
PhD in Cybersecurity
University of Wolverhampton
In view · AI-Augmented Firmware Security
Master’s Degree
University of Wolverhampton
Phishing Detection using NLP & SVM / 2023
Master’s Degree
Kwara State University
Cryptography / 2021
Bachelor’s Degree
Al-Hikmah University
Computer Science / 2017
BTEC Level 3 in Education and Training
Pearson / Dudley College of Technology
Teaching and training qualification / 2025
Certifications
Security certifications and professional credentials supporting my blue team and cybersecurity research profile.
Blue Team Level 1
Security Blue Team · 2025
Security+
CompTIA · 2024
Network+
CompTIA · 2024
A+
CompTIA · 2024
CC
ISC2 · 2023
AI-Augmented Firmware Security
My current research presents a comprehensive review of AI-augmented firmware security for Linux-based embedded devices, with emphasis on vulnerability detection and exploit validation. The work covers firmware acquisition, static analysis, dynamic analysis, emulation, fuzzing, and the emerging role of AI in supporting security analysis at scale.
University of Wolverhampton · School of Mathematics and Computer Science
Embedded Devices
Vulnerability Detection
Exploit Validation
AI / ML
Linux Firmware
Fuzzing
Rehosting
Get in Touch
Open to security engineering internships, research collaborations, and firmware security projects — remote or UK-based.