Shawn Koohy, a Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics Ph.D. candidate, has been awarded the Fall 2025 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award in Mechanical Engineering in recognition of his contributions to instruction in ENM 5310: Data-driven Modeling and Probabilistic Scientific Computing. This award recognizes a graduate student whose dedication, initiative and teaching excellence have significantly enhanced the learning experience of students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics.
In his nomination letter, Paris Perdikaris, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, emphasized Koohy’s exceptional impact: “In my 8 years of teaching and working with numerous TAs, Shawn is the most effective teaching assistant I have had the privilege to work with.” He noted that ENM 5310 is a demanding graduate-level course covering machine learning, deep learning and probabilistic methods, and that Koohy consistently demonstrated the technical depth and communication skills needed to support students through complex material.
Koohy’s contributions extended well beyond traditional responsibilities. He developed supplementary materials, including code tutorials and worked examples, that helped students connect theoretical concepts to practical implementation. He also designed problem sets and exam questions that reinforced core learning objectives while encouraging deeper understanding.
His commitment to student success was evident in both accessibility and responsiveness. Koohy held regular office hours and answered more than 200 questions on the course discussion board, often within minutes. As Perdikaris observed, students frequently had their questions resolved by Koohy before needing to attend instructor office hours, reflecting the thoroughness of his support.
Student feedback further highlighted his impact. One student shared that Koohy “went well beyond baseline TA expectations,” providing clear, actionable guidance and demonstrating genuine care for student learning. Another described office hours that often felt like “a private tutoring lesson,” where Koohy patiently walked through mathematical derivations and code line by line. Course evaluations reinforced these sentiments, with 95 percent of respondents rating him Very Good or Excellent.
The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award in Mechanical Engineering honors the vital role that teaching assistants play in enriching the educational experience at Penn Engineering. As this year’s recipient, Koohy will receive a $500 prize and recognition on his official academic transcript. Congratulations to Shawn Koohy for exemplifying initiative, reliability and a strong commitment to student success.