How do Tulane and Emory compare for undergraduate neuroscience research opportunities?

The main tradeoff is scale versus intimacy: Emory has a larger, more densely connected biomedical neuroscience research environment, while Tulane can offer a smaller setting where it may be easier to build close relationships with individual faculty. Both universities give undergraduates access to neuroscience-related work beyond a single department, including psychology, biology, medicine, and public-health-adjacent research. At either school, joining a lab early, emailing faculty thoughtfully, and being flexible about the exact topic will matter more than the major’s title alone.

Emory’s Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology program sits alongside extensive research in Emory College and the School of Medicine. Students can pursue work in areas such as cellular and molecular neuroscience, cognition, behavior, neurodegeneration, neuroimaging, and psychiatric neuroscience. The proximity of major medical and research units, including the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, creates an unusually broad set of labs, although the most sought-after positions can be competitive and some projects require substantial training.

Tulane’s neuroscience program connects undergraduates with faculty in the School of Science and Engineering and the School of Medicine, as well as the Tulane Brain Institute and the Tulane National Primate Research Center. Its New Orleans setting can be especially appealing for students interested in neurobiology, brain health, addiction, infectious disease, aging, or community-facing health research. The undergraduate program is smaller, so students who actively reach out may find more individualized mentorship, but they may need to be more deliberate about navigating labs across the uptown and downtown campuses.

For a student who wants the widest possible neuroscience lab ecosystem and strong access to medical-school research, Emory has the edge. Tulane is a compelling choice when close faculty relationships, a smaller undergraduate environment, and its particular neuroscience and health-research strengths match your interests.