Dr. Mark Willcox is a medical microbiologist and professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney in Australia. He earned his Ph.D. from Manchester University, U.K. His laboratory focuses on development of novel antimicrobials that have applications as antibiotics and disinfectants, as well as new antimicrobial coatings for medical devices. He has taken several of these through to preclinical testing and antimicrobial contact lenses through to phase III clinical trials. His research includes adhesion and biofilm formation by pathogenic microbes (most notably Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). He has also studied biofilm formation by oral bacteria and fungi, as well as set up a coronavirus testing facility.

Willcox has a strong commitment to postgraduate research and their subsequent research careers. He has supervised 68 Ph.D. students and currently supervises 17. He is also committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and was a Diversity Champion at UNSW from 2016 to 2019.