Parvin Malekzadeh is a Work Study Student with the Cinema Iranica project. As part of her responsibilities, she conducts research to collect information, articles, and website resources related to Iranian movies. Currently, Parvin is a PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Toronto. She received her BSc in Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran in 2018, and her MSc in Electrical Engineering from Concordia University, Montreal in 2020. Parvin’s research interests lie in the areas of signal processing, machine learning, reinforcement learning, and the Internet of Things.
“My name is Parvin Malekzadeh, and I am a work-study student at the Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies. Since May 2023, I have been a team member on the Cinema Iranica Encyclopedia Compendium and Women Poets Iranica Compendiums. I have contributed archival research, scholarly research on Iranian movies and poets.
It has been an exciting experience to work as part of a team at the Institute. Notably, I am most proud of compiling a comprehensive list and links of interviews with Iranian women poets. This experience has taught me the importance of documenting and amplifying the voices of those who are often marginalized in historical narratives. It has also highlighted the incredible talent of these women, and it motivated me personally, giving me the opportunity to listen to some of their poetry. Listening to these poems has been a relaxing and enriching experience for my soul, especially meaningful given my background in engineering.
Further, I have personally benefited from my time with the Institute in several ways. I have developed and refined many important skills, including research skills in archival and cinema studies, teamwork, organizational abilities, and publicity strategies. These skills have enabled me to enhance my analytical capabilities in my AI research, applying rigorous data analysis and comprehensive documentation practices. Combined with my other experiences, my time working at the Institute has enabled me to meaningfully develop my expertise in interdisciplinary research, establish significant connections within and outside the field of AI, and appreciate the role of collective research in bridging technological and cultural domains.
Overall, the Institute stands as an exemplary place of learning and community engagement, fostering an environment where academic scholarship connects communities and addresses important global issues through the examination, cultivation, and promotion of the arts and humanities.”