Georgina’s primary research focus is the study of pathogenic bacteria. Using a mixture of structural, molecular and genetic approaches, her research aims to gain insight into two areas: (1) how bacteria resist antibiotics and (2) how they interact with their host. The overarching goal is to develop innovative alternatives to traditional antibacterial chemotherapy.

Georgina completed her BSc and PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Leeds. She then completed postdoctoral training at McMaster University, in the Institute for Infectious Disease Research, working with Dr. Gerry Wright. She opened her research lab at the University of Guelph in 2017.

Mallory earned her BSc in Microbiology from the University of Guelph and recently completed her MSc in the Cox Lab. She is now working as a research technician using efflux substrates as chemical probes to better understand physiological and biochemical processes within the bacterial cell.

Mandeep is a postdoctoral researcher who completed her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at UCLouvain, Belgium. She joined the Cox Lab in 2024, where she studies how the absence of the outer membrane channel protein TolC affects the molecular composition and organization of the Escherichia coli cell envelope. Her research aims to uncover how alterations in lipopolysaccharides, phospholipids, and proteins influence membrane integrity. When she’s not in the lab, you can usually find her enjoying a good cup of coffee, experimenting in the kitchen, or laughing with her labmates.

Kirsten completed her undergraduate degree in biological science at the University of Guelph. During that time, she conducted an undergraduate research project in the Whitfield Lab, where she later worked as a research technician. Currently, Kirsten is an M.Sc. student in the Cox Lab. Her research aims to elucidate the role of cell wall synthesis machinery in adhesin surface presentation of Staphylococcus aureus.

Ruina completed a BSc (Hons) at the University of Waterloo and a MSc at the University of Calgary in Veterinary Medical Sciences. She officially joined the Cox lab as a PhD student in 2023, where she is investigating the regulation of cell wall anchored proteins with the aim to identify novel antimicrobial targets.

Megan completed her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences with a Specialization in Biomedical Discovery at Queen's University in 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she gained hands-on experience in laboratory research, which sparked her interest in microbial physiology and antimicrobial resistance. In 2024, Megan joined the Cox Lab as a MSc student, where she began investigating the molecular mechanisms by which efflux pumps contribute to pH homeostasis in Escherichia coli. Megan has since transitioned into the PhD program, continuing her research on efflux pump-mediated pH regulation.

Josh joined the Cox lab in 2025 as an MSc student after completing a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Guelph. His research utilizes several molecular and microbiological techniques, aiming to identify a novel antibiotic-adjuvant combination effective against multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae species.

Hashir completed his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Guelph. He joined the Cox Lab in 2025 as an MSc student, where he uses a combination of molecular and microbiological techniques to study the Escherichia coli efflux network and identify efflux substrates. His research aims to develop a predictive bioinformatic tool to assess the efflux susceptibility .

Gwen is a Microbiology student at the University of Guelph, completing a 12-month Co-op position in the Cox Lab. She started on Team Staph, investigating Staphylococcus aureus cell surface charge. She is now a part of Team efflux, investigating the tripartite efflux pumps, and their ability to complex with distinct outer membrane channels. In her spare time, Gwen enjoys taking Pilates classes and trying new Cafés in Guelph!

Azin is a fourth-year Microbiology student completing her co-op work terms in the Cox Lab, where she studies how efflux pumps affect Escherichia coli’s pH homeostasis. While researching antimicrobial resistance, she came across Dr. Cox’s fascinating work, which sparked her interest in joining the lab. Outside the lab, she enjoys biking, playing violin, spending time outdoors taking photos, and building puzzles or Legos.

Jacqui is currently completing an undergraduate research project with the Cox lab in pursuit of a BSc, majoring in molecular biology and genetics. During her time at the University of Guelph, she has developed a keen interest in elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing antimicrobial resistance. She is working with Team Efflux to better understand the role of the outer membrane proteins in drug efflux along with the overall physiology of E. coli.