Marilyn Johnson

Masters of Applied Social Research
Currently studying a PhD at Monash

A keen interest in learning all she could about research, coupled with a desire to build skills that would allow her to work as an active, collaborative researcher, were key influences in Marilyn's decision to enrol in a Masters of Applied Social Research at Monash.

Working full-time while studying presented challenges, but Marilyn attributes the standard of excellence she achieved in her course to extensive online resources, in particular journal subscriptions, and the high calibre of teaching staff. She says "They understood the demands of time management but they didn't compromise too much - they had high expectations and confidence in my ability to produce excellent work."

Following her Masters, Marilyn worked for the Parliament of Victoria as principal researcher for the Inquiry into Pedestrian Safety tabled in Parliament in 2006 and then as a researcher with the Ethics Committee in the Department of Justice.

She is the inaugural recipient of the Amy Gillett Foundations' Safe Family Research Scholarship which has allowed her to return to study as a full time PhD student at the Monash University Accident Research Centre where she is working on ways to improve cycling safety through a better understanding of the interaction between cyclists and other road users.