iGEM Changed How I See Biology: Damian Ungureanu’s SynBio Journey from Romania to Manchester
Interview by Andreea Cernei (iGEM Ambassador for Europe)
Written by Hassnain Q Bokhari
At the University of Manchester, Damian Ungureanu has just finished his second year of undergraduate studies in Biochemistry. His current research explores how gut bacteria resist heavy metals. But his journey in synthetic biology began with something entirely different: nanowires.
In 2024, Damian joined Team E.electrode, the University of Manchester’s iGEM team, which set out to design electrically conductive protein nanowires for use in prosthetics. For him, iGEM opened a door into a field he hadn’t fully realized was so vast.
“To be completely honest, I wasn’t aware of how broad the field was before joining iGEM,” Damian recalls. “I’d heard about GMOs in agriculture, but I didn’t know that many pharmaceuticals were now also made using engineered yeast or bacteria. iGEM showed me that the sky is the limit with biology.”
For Damian, iGEM wasn’t just about designing circuits in bacteria, it was about learning how to be a scientist.
“Besides the hands-on lab work, iGEM connected me with researchers at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology. With their guidance, I learned how to find relevant papers, design experiments and present my work.” he says.
Damian Ungureanu (2nd from the right) with the 2024 iGEM Manchester Team.
That experience expanded at the iGEM Grand Jamboree, where he met students and professors from around the world: “It broadened my professional network and gave me the confidence to engage with people at all levels of research.”
Before iGEM, Damian imagined a future in academia. But the competition revealed a different perspective: Biology as a driver of industrial innovation.
“iGEM made me realize synthetic biology can provide real solutions to problems of industrial interest, from recycling to textile manufacturing,” he says. “Now I’m gravitating toward pharmaceuticals, where research translates more directly into physical products.”
Damian also credits iGEM with shifting how he thinks about teamwork.
“Before iGEM, I didn’t appreciate how diversity helps a project flourish. A large part of our iGEM Competition project involved Human Practices, and we benefited greatly from the presence of a team member who was studying humanities,” he explains.
The lesson stuck: “I became more comfortable working with people from very different backgrounds. That’s a skill that’s becoming more and more useful in today’s job market.”
Although Damian has stepped back from iGEM to focus on his degree, he hasn’t closed the door. “I’d like to return as an iGEM Judge once I finish postgraduate studies,” he says. “And I’ve kept in touch with many people I met through iGEM. It’s still a field I’m deeply interested in.”
How to support the Synthetic Biology ecosystem in Romania?
Damian’s journey also carries the imprint of his Romanian upbringing. “My high school teachers played a huge role. They cultivated our curiosity and critical thinking, even in a system that had its flaws.”
He sees iGEM as an opportunity for Romania, where synthetic biology is still just a small niche. “Romania could greatly benefit from being part of iGEM, given how established the community already is internationally.”
But challenges remain. “The two main obstacles are limited research funding and the fact that SynBio is only a minor field at Romanian universities. The first step is to connect Romanian alumni with PIs and professors to showcase what iGEM can bring. Building that network could spark the first teams.”
Damian believes that young Romanians have what it takes to compete, but they just need encouragement.
“Look at past projects, find an area of SynBio that excites you, and bring the idea to a teacher or professor,” he advises. “Pick something you’re passionate about, because research is often more ‘thick’ than ‘thin.’ You need that passion to keep going.”
And for alumni like himself? “Become iGEM Ambassadors. Share your stories. Network with researchers back home. Sometimes, what students need most is to see that someone like them has already done it.”
For Damian, iGEM was the catalyst for broadening his view of biology, shaping his career ambitions, and giving him a community that extends far beyond Manchester. Now, he hopes that catalyst also helps ignite new opportunities in Romania, too.
