Break Through Tech is guiding Parnian’s career path and helping her align her research goals with real-world applications and industry needs.
Published
03/10/2025
Parnian Ghapandarkashani, a Computer Engineering student at UCLA, is on a mission to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Set to graduate in 2027, she has already taken significant steps toward her research ambitions through the Break Through Tech AI Program in Los Angeles.
Discovering Break Through Tech Parnian first heard about Break Through Tech from a teammate at a hackathon. Her teammate, a senior CS-Linguistic major, had secured a research position through the program and highly recommended it. Inspired by this success, Parnian decided to apply, seeking to strengthen her AI foundation and gain hands-on experience.
A Path to Research and Industry Connections While her primary goal is to pursue advanced research in AI and its intersection with quantum computing, Parnian recognized that gaining practical industry experience would be invaluable. “The program allowed me to work on practical projects and connect with project managers in the industry,” she shares.
“These connections and experiences are guiding my career path and helping me align my research goals with real-world applications and industry needs.”
Defining a Career Path Break Through Tech AI provided Parnian with structure, clarity, and confidence in her career trajectory. “When I was in my first year, I was intimidated and unsure where to even start with AI, resume building, and networking,” she admits. The program introduced her to an organized learning path, equipping her with both technical and professional development skills. Now, she feels more prepared and focused, ready to align her research ambitions with industry expectations.
Pioneering AI for Security Applications During her time in the program, Parnian collaborated on a Vision Language Model (VLM) project in partnership with Qualcomm. Her team fine-tuned Microsoft’s Florence-2 model for weapon detection using the LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) technique. Leveraging a custom dataset from Roboflow, they enhanced public surveillance and security applications—a project that gave Parnian firsthand experience in tackling real-world AI challenges.
Advice for Future Participants Parnian encourages future students to be strategic when selecting their AI Studio projects. “Pick a project that truly matches your goals,” she advises. “Imagine you are about to write a sci-fi novel about it; you should feel that excited. Don’t just make a choice based on a company’s reputation.”
As she continues her journey, Parnian remains committed to expanding her knowledge in AI and quantum computing, confident that the foundation she built through Break Through Tech will support her ambitions for years to come.
Follow Parnian’s journey on LinkedIn.