Kota Takahashi, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. He also holds adjunct appointments in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Department of Biomedical Engineering. His research is driven by curiosity for understanding how humans move and leverages his interdisciplinary training in kinesiology and engineering. He has always been fascinated by the human body, and he’s also a lover of sports and science fiction. Although he's still relatively new to the U, having started in Summer 2022, he's scored several high-profile grants from the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, he runs the Sayu Lab for Biomechanics & Locomotion, which aims to establish a collaborative and inclusive environment for scientists at various academic levels.
-
Why did you decide to pursue your line of research?
I got introduced to medicine and biomechanics when I started getting low back pain in high school. That motivated me to study kinesiology, and eventually I got into biomechanics due to my fascination with technology to assist human movement.
-
What sort of training did you need to get into your current specialty?
It’s a mix of anatomy, physiology and engineering. But really, the most important training is learning how to read scientific articles, and being curious about the things we read and learn.
-
How would you give an “elevator pitch” about what you research, to someone who doesn’t have any background knowledge?
I’m admittedly not good at elevator pitch. I’ll work on it!
-
What are you most proud of in your research career?
I’m most proud of the people I get to work with, including former mentors, collaborators, and mentees. I was so fortunate to learn from passionate and dedicated mentors. Nothing is more fun when you get to work in science with people who share the same passion.
-
What’s your biggest research goal over the next five years?
I recently became a first-time NIH and DOD-funded investigator. In today’s ultra-competitive funding climate, I know I’m so fortunate to have this support. My primary goal over the next five years is to carry out these projects to the best of our ability.
-
How does your research tie into the College of Health’s goal of redefining the human healthspan?
Our ongoing work aims to understand factors that prevent people from being mobile and active over their lifespan, and study how everyday devices (e.g., footwear) or specialized devices (e.g., prosthetics) can improve mobility for a greater healthspan.