Natsuka Kobayashi
M.D./Ph.D. Student
Natsuka Kobayashi
About Me
Hi! I'm Natsuka! I was born in Japan, but grew up half my life in Indiana and the rest in Houston. My parents are both scientists, and coupled with an interest in science, I knew I wanted to be in medicine early on. I was initially interested in psychology and biology, so I ended up combining those interests to earn my bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from 17³Ô¹ÏÍø A&M University. While I initially was involved in psycholinguistic research during my earlier years in undergrad, I switched to a spinal cord injury focus, where I got the majority of my research experiences. Outside of school and lab, you'll see me doing puzzles, pilates, or exploring new coffee shops.
Hobbies/Interests
puzzles, cooking, pilates, exploring coffee shops/cafes, watching movies
Research Topic
neurodegeneration, pain, neural injury
Why I chose MD/PhD
I chose MD/PhD because I wanted a training and career that could integrate both science and medicine. During my undergrad, I was a caretaker for a person with a spinal cord injury and that experience drove me to join a lab with a neural injury & pain focus. It was very meaningful to be able to do research that directly tied in with my clinical experiences. Throughout my time here, I also learned how sometimes there is a mismatch between what is being researched and what is needed from the patients' perspective. I knew I wanted to become a physician-scientist that recognized and understood the needs of the patients, while also advancing science.
Why I chose MD/PhD at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø
While I initially was drawn to 17³Ô¹ÏÍø's research strengths within the neurodegeneration and pain field, I really appreciated how supported the students were in terms of both academics and personal life. I felt that this culture of mentorship would make UTSA a great place for me to grow into a physician-scientist.
Education
B.S., Neuroscience, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø A&M University, 2024
Publications
Chialikia, M., Vaid, J., Kobayashi, N.(2024). Bilingual Language Experience Alters Perception of the Tritone Paradox: Evidence from Spanish-English Bilingual and English Monolingual Listeners in 17³Ô¹ÏÍø. Auditory Perception & Cognition, 7(4), 265–290. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742442.2024.2421142.