Arts PhD student Julie Willems

Julie Willems believes there are many faces to research.

The Monash PhD communications research candidate said she has learnt that research is not a singular entity. "It can be qualitative or quantitative, collaborative or individual, focused or longitudinal," she said.

"I have learnt that everything is a research opportunity. It just depends on how you look at things."

In keeping with her open-minded approach to research Julie has tapped into Monash University resources to travel the world advancing her PhD investigation into the impact of learning styles in e-learning.

She received a Monash Equity Travel Grant to conduct research in the US, and to present her work at two international conferences in Singapore and Quebec, Canada.

"Publication at a conference can depend on attendance, so the equity grant becomes very important," she said. Now a veteran of 10 national and international conferences, Julie said the face-to-face interaction with her peers was critical to her research. "Each conference has not only helped me to sharpen and refine my argument, but also exposed me to the latest research from around the globe. "It's a great way to get feedback from a global audience whose work and research is in the same field."

Julie completed more than 20 years of tertiary study by distance education before arriving at Monash. She said the support of her supervisors, MRGS, her peers, family and friends had encouraged her to continue working in the research field.