Ph.D. student shares a passion for math with his students

Pascal Kataboh, an applied mathematics Ph.D. candidate at the University of Delaware working with Gilberto Schleiniger, has won two teaching awards. In 2024, he won the department’s Baxter-Sloyer award, which is given to a grad student “who has demonstrated superior effectiveness in teaching, and in the performance of their responsibilities.” He also won the Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award, UD’s highest honor for graduate student teaching. 

Kataboh was born and raised in Accra, Ghana. He has a B.Sc. in mathematics and economics from the University of Cape Coast and an M.S. in mathematics from Ohio University. In his role as a graduate teaching assistant at UD, Kataboh teaches calculus, engineering mathematics and college algebra and statistics. 

"I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award! As a graduate student at UD, I made it my personal mission to help my students not only understand mathematics but also find joy in it," said Kataboh. "To me, teaching mathematics isn’t simply about showing students how to solve problems; it’s about working alongside them as they learn and grow in their mathematical abilities. I firmly believe that teaching with passion and dedication is the key to ensuring our students’ success. Mathematics doesn’t have to be a subject shrouded in mystery and confusion; it can be enjoyable and even fun when we make it interactive and engage our students in deep discussions. I take great joy in seeing my students recognize me, even in coffee shops on campus and enthusiastically want to discuss calculus problems. This is what teaching is all about: seeing our students grow and thrive. I am motivated now more than ever to continue working diligently to help our students become independent problem solvers. I am so grateful for the tremendous advice and support I have received from some of the fantastic math instructors here at UD, particularly Cristina Bacuta, Calvin Hotchkiss, Eirini Kilikian, and Nelson Brittingham. I could not have achieved this award without them, and I am so grateful for their guidance."

In his research with Schleiniger and Bruce Boman—an expert in colorectal cancer at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute—Kataboh explores the molecular pathways that drive colon cancer progression and investigates treatment strategies. He uses mathematical modeling and analysis to simulate multiple cellular pathways that regulate cancer development, with a particular focus on colorectal cancer.