It is with considerable sadness that the Department of Genetics shares the news of the unexpected death of our colleague, Marco Geymonat, who died on the 2nd September after a brief illness.
Marco was a dedicated member of Genetics academic community, joining the Department in 2010 after research roles at NIMR in London. Marco was a talented researcher and imaginative experimentalist who brought a passion for science and a creative approach to his research. He published over 30 papers during his career with a major focus on understanding the control of the cell cycle in yeast. Many of our academic community across the School received superb technical guidance and support from Marco, particularly with his platform for highly efficient protein expression in yeast. He really was a gifted experimentalist.
Marco began his substantive contributions to the Department’s teaching in 2012, starting as a Teaching Associate and promoted to Senior Teaching Associate in 2023. Marco was an outstanding educator who cared passionately about teaching. As well as lecturing on the Part II Genetics course, he made superb contributions to the Part IA Biology of Cells course, in particular his commitment to developing and improving the major Genetics practical components. His work during the pandemic, converting lab-based practical sessions to an online format was exceptional. The Genetics practicals consistently received excellent student feedback for its content and organisation.
Marco was a caring and extraordinarily kind man who treated everyone with respect irrespective of who they were, and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues. Our thoughts go out to his wife Anna, their three sons and the rest of his family.