Tulane Senior Bridges Neuroscience, Journalism, and the Arts in Pursuit of Medical Career

Ian Faul, a senior from New Orleans double majoring in psychology and philosophy with a French minor, embodies the interdisciplinary spirit that defines Tulane University. On the pre-med track while conducting neuroscience research and editing the student newspaper, Faul has built a college experience that connects diverse fields and ideas in ways that reflect Tulane's commitment to turning innovation into impact.

"I came to Tulane very much undecided," Faul said. "[But] I was pretty sure that I wasn't going to be a doctor coming into college," he explained.  

Having simultaneously attended a STEM-focused high school and a conservatory-style performing arts training program, he was uncertain which direction he would go as a college student. Luckily, Tulane's resources and collaborative environment enabled him to combine his passions, discovering connections between seemingly disparate pursuits that would ultimately shape his career goals.

In the Social Memory Lab, Faul works on research projects using brain imaging to study how people remember and reason about other people. Although seemingly a far stretch from his early education in theater performance, he believes this training contributed to his current passion by inciting in him a curiosity about other people’s minds and a desire to understand the machinery that underlies them. The research represents the kind of practical, cross-disciplinary collaboration that Tulane fosters, where students engage with cutting-edge technology and real-world problems.  

His engagement with the field extends beyond the laboratory walls. Faul stays current with cutting-edge developments in neuroscience, following newly published preprints and scientific discourse online. "I hope to one day be able to contribute in some capacity to that," he said, reflecting an ambition to join the broader scientific conversation.

Faul's research in social neuroscience connects his psychology major with his initially unexpected medical aspirations, which he committed to in his second year.

Beyond the laboratory, Faul serves as editor in chief of the Hullabaloo, Tulane's student newspaper, where he has created a unique intersection between his scientific work and his passion for communication. He established a section dedicated to science communication, extending the university's research impact to the broader campus community.

"I created a section that focuses on news about research or innovation happening at Tulane, and also quantitative analyzes," he said. This initiative reflects Tulane's emphasis on connecting people, ideas, and disciplines to rethink what's possible.

Faul has also begun writing for a local newspaper's science and health section, extending his reach beyond campus and strengthening connections between the university and the New Orleans community.  

His approach to journalism reveals the deep connections he sees between his varied pursuits. "I have imported a bunch of neuroscientific metaphors into the Hullabaloo. I have referred to it before as the hippocampus on campus, because not only is it generating news for people right now, but it's chronicling activity on campus for the generations of students and faculty and others to come."

The metaphor is apt: just as the hippocampus consolidates memories in the brain, the newspaper preserves institutional memory for future generations of Tulanians. It's the kind of creative thinking that emerges when students are empowered to explore connections across disciplines.

When asked where he feels most at home on campus, Faul acknowledged the challenge of choosing among his diverse commitments. "I do try to find the connections between the different aspects of my life at Tulane. And I can't really say that there is a spot where I feel most at home," he said.

"With the lab, that is most directly related to my career trajectory. But I think working at newspaper has been just as important to my professional development and informing my career goals."

Reflecting on his unconventional path, Faul articulated a philosophy that challenges the notion that students must have their futures mapped out from day one. "There is great value in exploring. As long as you're able to find the resonances between your different pursuits and reflect on how they can inform each other," he said.

"I think Tulane has really given me the materials resources to do that, and ultimately, I don't regret anything about my very diverse trajectory through college."

As Faul prepares for the next chapter of his academic journey and eventual medical career, his Tulane experience has equipped him with more than just scientific knowledge. He has developed the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, to see connections across disciplines, and to approach problems from multiple perspectives.

His work in the neuroscience lab, at the Hullabaloo, and in the broader New Orleans community exemplifies how Tulane students turn innovation into impact. By connecting his interests in neuroscience, communication, and the arts, Faul has built a foundation for a career that will likely continue to bridge multiple fields.

In an era when society's most complex challenges require interdisciplinary approaches, graduates like Faul who can move fluidly between scientific research, public communication, and creative expression are precisely what the world needs.