Mary-Late Laibhen ’28 was recently accepted into the Break Through Tech’s AI Program, where she will learn the skills she needs to pursue her goal of a career in machine learning and cybersecurity.
“Through this program, I hope to build meaningful connections and gain experience working in larger, more diverse teams,” says Laibhen, a Computer Science major. “I also want to deepen my understanding of AI and machine learning and continue developing my technical skills.”
This year-long program teaches college first-year students through juniors the skills they need to be prepared for a career in data science, AI, or machine learning.
Laibhen is interested in the intersection of AI and security. She wants to build smart and ethical systems that protect data in our increasingly digital world.
“As technology continues to advance, I think it’s critical that AI systems are designed not only to be effective but also responsible and secure,” Laibhen says. “Being part of that work—developing tools that both innovate and safeguard—really motivates me.”
Laibhen says the Break Through Tech AI Program is an incredible opportunity to help her move closer towards her career goals.
“The program’s Machine Learning Foundations course will strengthen my technical understanding, while the AI Studio projects will give me hands-on experience working on real-world challenges,” Laibhen says. “I’m especially excited about the opportunity to collaborate with companies and gain insight into how AI is applied in professional settings.”
Laibhen first became interested in machine learning after taking Applied Python with Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Cory Scott last fall. “At first, I thought the subject was boring, but as we worked on different projects, I began to see how engaging and impactful it can be,” she says. “This class ultimately motivated me to apply and inspired my goal of a career in cybersecurity.”
After being inspired by that class, Laibhen decided to participate in a program with NASA, where she and her teammates conducted research and explored Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML). Through this program, Laibhen learned how machine learning models can be applied on small, low-power devices, which showed her a completely different side of AI.
“Being able to work on real research and see practical applications of machine learning helped my interest grow even more and made me excited about the possibilities within the field,” Laihben says.
The 2026-27 cohort of the Break Through Tech’s AI Program will spend this summer completing online courses and labs through the Machine Learning Foundations summer course. After that, students will be placed on teams to work on real-life AI projects, participate in career development and networking opportunities, and receive one-on-one mentorship and career coaching from AI industry professionals.
Following the successful completion of the program, students earn a certificate in machine learning from Cornell University and receive a financial award.
“This program represents an important step in helping me build both the technical skills and professional connections needed to pursue a career in machine learning and cybersecurity, and I’m excited about the growth and opportunities it will provide,” Laihben says.
