A former shepherd and farm manager, Dr Marion Johnson combines academic science and research with practical and traditional farm knowledge. Now a Research Fellow at Otago University’s Centre for Sustainability, Dr Johnson holds degrees in Agricultural Science, Environmental Biology and Veterinary Parasitology.

Her research interests encompass Te Rongoā (Māori traditional medicine) and how native medicinal plants can be incorporated on farm promoting animal health, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Other smaller projects include subclinical parasitism in red deer and in the alternative land uses portfolio - the roles Raupo and Miscanthus might play in future farming.

She is Principal Investigator on the NPM Project Indigenous argoecology.