Blog

Humans of LabCentral is a new series dedicated to shedding light on the personal stories of the people that make up our diverse community. Through each story, we seek to define what it means to be a part of this ecosystem. This is the story of LabCentral resident, Andrei Ursu, Ph.D.

"I was born in a small city in Romania. 

Both of my parents were chemists. And what do you get from two chemists? A chemist and a doctor. My sister chose medicine; I chose chemistry. 

I grew up in a home that encouraged experimentation. My parents brought me test tubes, Erlenmeyer flasks, and all kinds of glassware, and I spent hours mixing things just to see what would happen. That curiosity became a lifelong passion. 

Meanwhile, the United States lived in my imagination. After the Romanian Revolution, American movies and music poured in; everything looked larger than life. I’d see Larry Bird T-shirts and U.S. sports caps on the street. I watched the NBA Finals into the early morning—Bulls vs. Jazz, Jordan vs. Malone—dreaming I’d attend a game in person one day.  Curiosity drove me to find out whether the America I’d imagined was real. 

My parents also encouraged me to experiment with the world.  My journey outward began in college. I spent a semester in Germany, which felt like a door swinging open—new places, new friends, a different rhythm of life. I left Romania with two suitcases on a 36-hour bus ride and started over, learning the language and navigating a new system with all the trade-offs that come with moving. Not long after, I returned to Germany for my PhD. 

Afterward, I finally made it to the U.S., where I worked as a postdoc in Florida. The reality both surprised and taught me. I was used to walking and public transit. In Florida, “2 miles” looked harmless on a map until I found myself alone on long, quiet roads that felt like a paused movie. Bus trips, long drives across states, and staying with locals became my classroom. Riding local routes and staying in every kind of place—some grand, some rough—I met people I might never otherwise have crossed paths with, learned from their experiences, and began to understand this country’s culture through their stories. 

I know many people who are happy in Romania, but I don’t think I would have been. I’m wired to learn about the world through its people and culture, not just its landmarks. Living in Boston now, I can feel the difference. When I visit home, I glimpse the version of myself who might have stayed—more cautious, less open to new ideas about the world. Boston is a fascinating mix of cultures, and I try to take full advantage of that—scientifically and outside the lab. 

On paper, the path reads cleanly: PhD in Germany, postdoc in the U.S. What doesn’t show are the sacrifices behind each line—leaving family and loved ones, starting from zero, adapting to cultural differences, sometimes being unable to return home. If we don’t talk about those, it’s easy to assume everything was effortless. One thing I appreciate about the U.S. is the habit of sharing stories, the willingness to name the successes but also the struggles. I wish we did more of that in Europe. Honest stories prepare people for what living abroad truly means. 

No one told me what to expect, so I remind myself: the destination matters, but the journey shapes you. I try to pay attention to it—the missteps, the lucky breaks, the long walks—because that’s where most of the learning happens. I’m looking to experience as much of life’s journey as I can, with all its ups and downs."

Would I do it again, knowing what I know now? 

"Yes. And after all those years of watching late-night basketball, I finally made it to a Celtics game."