Pascale Michaud: A Break Through Tech Program Demonstrates the Value of AI to a Mechanical Engineering Student

Pascale is studying Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and first heard about Break Through Tech at a meeting of The Society of Women Engineers. After participating in a pre-college, week-long AI program at Miami Dade College, she wanted to learn more. “Break Through Tech has shown me that AI can be an important tool for me as a mechanical engineer,” said Pascale.

In the second half of 2023, Pascale’s involvement with Break Through Tech led to a 5-month long project with Verizon to determine priority zones for the rollout of Verizon’s 5G network. “My team worked with datasets with more than 10,000 rows and developed a machine learning approach to determine the best zones for the rollout. The datasets contained customer device types, locations, time spent at those locations, demographics, and web site behavior,” said Pascale. “We also worked with infrastructure data, such as the location of manufacturing facilities, college campuses, and hospitals.

Pascale’s Verizon project, which was hosted by MIT, is illustrative of the many real-world machine learning Challenge Projects presented to AI students by Break Through Tech’s numerous industry partners.

Pascale has since completed her minor in Physics at Worcester. “I have found physics fascinating from a young age, so I’m glad I devoted some of my college experience to learning some of the fundamental principles governing the universe,” said Pascale. Her physics minor capstone project was in the field of digital holography, which allows for real-time imaging and full field-of-view measurements of objects.

“I’m glad I devoted some of my college experience to learning some of the fundamental principles governing the universe.”

When asked for her advice to other students considering a Break Through Tech program, Pascale suggests attending one of Break Through Tech’s many info sessions. “You can also reach out via email to the program managers. During info-sessions or via email, you should ask the program managers the most common majors in the program and the type of jobs that might be available afterwards,” said Pascale. Having an open mind is also a major positive, and Pascale suggests that one of her major strengths is her ability to try new things.

When she’s not studying or working on her many projects, Pascale likes to paint, workout, take care of her plants, and play the Just Dance video game.

Connect with Pascale via LinkedIn HERE.