In Memory of

William-Green-Coogan-photo-crop

William Patrick Green Coogan

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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. …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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, …