Robert Kara
Aspiring Software Engineer in my 3rd year of Computer Science at Queen Mary University of London, with interests in Artificial Intelligence and Fintech. Proven experience in full-stack web development, as well as developing and testing Java/Python systems. Seeking relevant graduate placements to help craft meaningful solutions to real-world problems. Avid photographer/videographer with a passion for music.
Education
2022 - 2025
Queen Mary University of London
BSc Computer Science (Hons)
First Year: 1st Class Achieved (89%) Modules: Object-Oriented Programming, Procedural Programming, Fundamentals of Web Technology, Computer Systems and Networks, Automata and Formal Languages, Logic and Discrete Structures, Professional and Research Practice, Information System Analysis
Second Year: 1st Class Achieved (79%) Modules: Algorithms and Data Structures, Operating Systems, Probability and Matrices, Graphical User Interfaces, Software Engineering, Software Engineering Project, Database Systems, Internet Protocols and Applications.
2020 - 2022
Chelsea Academy (Sixth Form)
4 A Levels
Subjects taken: Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Further Mathematics
2015 - 2020
Platanos College (Secondary School)
1 Level 3 FSMQ/A and 11 GCSEs:
Subjects taken: Additional Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Religious Studies, Spanish, Computer Science
Experience
September 2024
Aquis Exchange
Internship – Markets
In progress
June 2024 - August 2024
NatWest Group
Internship – Software Engineering
Designed a comprehensive Terraform pipeline and pushed changes to improve the Grafana dashboard to the company goal of 95% availability, leaving a lasting impact on the engineering lab team’s operations and resources, creating detailed documentation for both tasks.
Joined the Code Club team, using Agile methodology to guide backend development of a full-stack website and coordinate testing using Jest.
Demonstrated website’s potential to streamline signup/progress tracking to the COO of Digital Transformation and 50 Code Club employees.
Led a team of 5 in preparing a business project related to climate change, applying Agile practices and data-driven research to prototype a green rewards scheme for the NatWest mobile app, integrating environmental initiatives to align with stakeholder priorities.
May 2023
IBM
Internship - Student Consultancy Project (QMUL)
Led a team of 4 in conducting a strategic analysis of the IBM Skills Build platform, advising on educational relevance for 2 million users in the next 5 years, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Security.
Developed and presented a data-driven visualisation to the Master Inventor at IBM, mapping over 100 Skills Build resources across 10 academic disciplines, categorising them by potential demand and relevance.
March 2023 - April 2023
Inferential Futures
Internship – Software Development and Artificial Intelligence
Designed and implemented a prototype of a GPT-enabled careers-advice chatbot, using OpenAI APIs to process prompts and return responses.
Wrote and discussed a paper on the potential of such implementations and broader Artificial Intelligence concepts in the careers advice space, exploring capability, performance, and cost for the present-day OpenAI APIs.
Conducted user testing with 30 participants, achieving a 96% satisfaction rate for the original prototype’s functionality and user experience.
September 2023 - Current
Queen Mary University of London
Laboratory Demonstrator – Computer Science
Facilitated the administration of modules for over 600 students by explaining concepts, marking coursework, and invigilating exams.
Provided one-on-one Java/Python coding sessions during lab hours to explain complex topics like recursion, inheritance, and multithreading.
Modules: Object-Oriented Programming, Fundamentals of Web Technology, Procedural Programming, Computer Systems and Networks.
June 2023 - July 2023
MCS Projects
Activity Leader - STEM Challenge Days
Directed STEM activity events and finals for over 400 secondary school students across England with a 100% satisfaction rate.
Co-ordinated the E-Fit, Electric Vehicle, and Robotics Challenges, centred around computerised visualisations, climate, and automation.
July 2021
Profusion Data Agency
Insights Program – Marketing
Conducted a team of 4 in planning an app for young people seeking career opportunities. Outlined the design, marketing, and finance aspects of the project, and produced a detailed one-year plan with details on execution.
Gained experience on data science tools and how marketing schemes are conducted to promote technological innovations.
July 2019
White & Case Law Firm
Work Shadowing – IT Project Manager
Gained experience with IT project management, including completing tasks such as setting objectives, presenting ideas, predicting outcomes, and monitoring progress of team members with effort tracking tools such as Gantt Charts and Review Boards.
Led a team of 5 to negotiate a hypothetical deal between a client and a professional sports company as a case-study exercise, advocating for the best possible terms which would also accommodate and allow for compromise to ensure both parties were satisfied with the outcome.
Projects
Private Prototype
NatWest Code Club Progress Tracker
MongoDB | Express.js | React | Node.js
Developed a full-stack website in a team of 20 using Agile processes to improve signup and progress tracking for over 45,000 students.
Coordinated tests by leveraging Jest, including database/method mocking alongside unit/integration tests to ensure reliable user experience.
FDM Employee Portal Application
React | Next.js | Prisma ORM
Directed a team of 7 to develop a full-stack website for FDM employees using the Agile methodology, accommodating HR processes.
Spearheaded the development strategy using the Agile methodology, via daily stand-up meetings to ensure timely delivery of the app.
Presented to FDM stakeholders and achieved 1st place in the Software Engineering Project Competition out of 8 groups.
Private Prototype
Weather Application for Construction Site Managers
React | Next.js | Tailwind CSS | OpenWeatherMap API
Managed a team of 4 to develop a responsive weather application using OpenWeatherMap API to fetch and display data based on location.
Prototyped designs using Figma and made documentation and a 10-minute video regarding requirements, design, and evaluation.
Private Prototype
Full-stack Careers Advisory Chatbot Website
HTML | CSS | PHP | JS | JSON | XML | SQL | OpenAI API
Full-stack web application making use of Ada, Babbage, Curie, and Davinci APIs for prompt processing.
Portfolio Website with Blog Functionality
HTML | CSS | PHP | JS | SQL
Full-stack responsive web application with login (using an SQL database) to differentiate between admin and guest for blog functionality.
Big House Game
Java | Java Swing
Text-based game utilising Java Swing to create the GUI for navigation both between and inside rooms, alongside inventory.
