William Patrick Green Coogan

In Memory of

Will was a final-year PhD student in the Department of Biology who was funded by the British Heart Foundation. He started his PhD in 2017 after graduating with an MRes in Structural Molecular Biology degree from Imperial College London. Will was a deep thinker and hard worker when it came to his research project, and ambitious when it came to planning his experiments. He was a gifted protein biochemist praised for having “green fingers” when producing that difficult to purify recombinant protein. From Day 1 of his PhD project, Will was able to think in an interdisciplinary manner about the techniques and experiments that could be used to address a structural biology question. Will was good-natured with a dry sense of humour that he delivered with a trademark mischievous grin. He would happily engage anyone in a detailed conversation about one of his top-three favourite topics: science, music or football. Will was a bright young scientist with a promising future in biochemical and structural biology research. He will be warmly remembered for his contributions to the York research community, and sorely missed by all of us.

Book Owner: Angela Lipscomb

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Fred Antson

Will was such a talented and gifted person. I was advising Will over the last year of his PhD, on structure determination. He was a very quick learner and did such an excellent job with model building. He was also very kind and considerate, and I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to discuss the research with him. …

March 12, 2021
11:18 am

Azhar Kabli

I am so sorry beyond words to hear about Will. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. I’ll always remember Will in many positive ways with a big smile and a great sense of humour. I’ll miss our lunchtime conversation about the US Election, the funny videos that he always shared with us and the times when we went out for drinks with the L1 folks in town. Words can’t express how truly I will miss Will. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. …

March 11, 2021
6:03 pm

Andrew Leech

I first met Will when he started with Jen Potts’ group and needed some work done in the TF. We tend to see students at irregular intervals as they need training or experiments so I was pleased to see him again before Christmas with some samples, and looking forward to him resuming the experiments after the break. Alas it was not to be. What particularly struck me about Will was his considerate attitude in everything. I never saw him short with anyone or angry, and he was always concerned to be helpful and make things easy for me whatever the urgency – and it was always a pleasure to work with him. His passing is a loss to science and to the world in general. …

March 11, 2021
10:41 am

Rosie Leaman

I was really sorry to hear about Will – I remember him as being always friendly and cheerful when I used to see him at Gradshare and around L1. He will be sorely missed. …

March 1, 2021
8:21 pm

Rich Bingham

Will demonstrated for me in my first year teaching a new module. I greatly appreciated having him with me, as his friendly demeanour helped make the session run smoothly and his easy-going manner was also appreciated by the students he helped. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. …

February 27, 2021
6:58 pm

Rhianna Rowland

Will and I were based in different parts of the biology building but I would see him from time to time when he came to YSBL to use the crystallography facilities. We would stop to have a general chat and he was always so friendly, smiley and cheerful. I only wish I had got to know him better. …

February 26, 2021
9:03 pm

Olga Moroz

I first met Will when he asked to help with one of our crystallisation robots. He was very quick to learn, and since then we always waved to each other in the atrium, and from time to time he told me how his project was going on. He was a bright, hard working, lovely, polite and charming boy. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this terribly sad times, and I’ll always remember his friendly smile. …

February 26, 2021
11:27 am

Sam Farrell

I have known Will while he was demonstrating and helping in the Biology Teaching Labs over the past few years. I often saw him helping undergraduate students during practical sessions. Will was kind and considerate to everyone he worked with and would always be happy to help out and assist after practicals wherever he could. He would always be happy to stop and have a chat whenever I saw him. He cared deeply for how students were doing during their practical sessions and always made sure they got the most out of their lab experience. My sincere condolences go to Will’s family and friends during this time. …

February 26, 2021
11:12 am

Josie Monaghan

I started my PhD at the same time as Will and he was so friendly and open that we immediately got chattering away at the induction events. I remember talking a lot about music – especially being a pair of Mancs – and being some of the seemingly few northerners around (even his enthusiasm couldn’t get me to talk footie!) We ended up at opposite ends of the building so didn’t cross paths at work much, but whenever we all went for post-work beers he was always a very chilled, funny, and positive presence, and I found he was generous with his time and forever willing to lend an ear to anyone who needed it. He cheered me up when science was misbehaving, and I know he did the same for many others in the department. He will be very much missed. My heartfelt condolences to Will’s family and friends …

February 25, 2021
10:30 pm

Michelle Rudden

I know Will as part of the L1 team and as a friend. Will was a very friendly gentle natured guy. Over the years I got to know him well as he was part of the lunch crew. Of all the years I’ve known Will I think his lunches have always been ham sandwiches, mini-rolls and a can of Fanta. Will had a great sense of humour and always enjoyed good banter and jokes – I can only assume that is from is Irish heritage of which he was very proud. He was definitely a Manchester lad through and through, he was always so polite as I tired so desperately to impersonate a Mancunian accent – which was obviously terrible, but he still laughed. I have to admit his Irish accents trumped my Mancunian every time. Will was always up for getting involved in all social activities and enjoyed an after-work pint. I will dearly miss him and feel privileged to have known him as a friend in the time he was here in York. My deepest condolences to Will’s family and friends. I will never forget you Will. …

February 25, 2021
11:31 am

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