We are excited to announce our Research Day! This research day is aimed at PGRs and ECRs looking to gain insights and practical tools for navigating emotionally demanding and sensitive research areas. To find out more and register, visit: www.srnmidlands.com/research-day

Are you a PhD student in the Midlands conducting sensitive or emotionally demanding research? 💭 Who are we? A peer-led research network for PhD researchers across the Midlands who are navigating complex, emotionally demanding research (EDR). We are a @mgsesrcdtp.bsky.social student network!

🔎✒️ How can we keep research teams and ourselves safe when studying politically sensitive topics? @britanlar.bsky.social and I present a new framework for protection and support drawing on feminist care ethics. The report is now available on the @men4dem.bsky.social website 👇

In support of this great work the Empowering Community Action to Prevent Youth Suicide event takes place 17/10/25 18:30–20:30. Open to young people, parents, carers, charities, suicide prevention services, local authorities, community leaders, and researchers. www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/stron...

💡Did you know @thesprintproject.bsky.social have created downloadable infographics which are condensed versions of their report! Find more here: 🔗 www.sprintproject.org/guidelines

Our event is only a week away! Please do register if you haven’t done so already!

We're looking to set up a research day for PhDs and ECRs to navigate emotionally demanding research and reflexive practice. If you're interested in helping run a session / know people who may be interested, please contact us! It will be in person at the University of Birmingham

Doing research on tough topics? Missed our seminar? You’re not alone. Check out our first NABS+ seminar readout on navigating emotionally demanding work, including memory impacts and practical strategies for self-care and supervision here: crestresearch.ac.uk/nabs/early-c...

📅 31 Oct | 📍 Abertay Uni, Dundee Join us for a SIPR workshop on Working with Emotionally Demanding Material. We’ll explore sensitive research, share strategies for self-care, and connect with others in the field. 🎟️ bit.ly/4m22njn #SIPR #ResearchWellbeing

💡 Did you know the SRN Midlands has a blog? It’s more than just updates; it’s a shared space where we reflect on the personal and professional sides of academic life through stories, commentaries, and reflections. It’s a space for open dialogue and thoughtful engagement. blog.srnmidlands.com

📚 Did you know we have a Resource List? 🧠 Suggested by our members, the list includes: Methodological & ethical training materials Reflective articles on EDR Wellbeing resources to support your research journey 🎧 From articles and guides to podcasts — there's something for every stage of your PhD.

Access our free guidelines and resources for supporting researcher's mental health here www.sprintproject.org/guidelines Thank you to all who attended today's workshop and to those who have participated in our survey. You can still take part via the link above!

Great to see @thesprintproject.bsky.social responding to survey responses and creating additional guidance!

🗓️ Date for your diary! NABS+ Early Career Researcher (ECR) Seminar, 'Doing Emotionally Demanding Research - A dual perspective of supervisor and researcher', Thurs 3 July, 11:00-12:00 (via Teams) with Dr Juliane Kloess and Dr Amy Burrell. Details at crestresearch.ac.uk/nabs/opportu...

🖊🖊 New Blog post! A Step Towards a Framework for Supporting Researchers in Emotionally Demanding Research A short commentary on the recent article published by Quinton et al. and the guidelines! blog.srnmidlands.com#h.1mdk12v2uyhu

We're very happy to have @georgiabird.bsky.social run a workshop at the @mgsconference25.bsky.social This workshop explores best practices for supporting researchers' mental health in emotionally demanding research.

Upcoming seminar on researcher wellbeing - of interest to folk working in sensitive or emotionally demanding/challenging research (or those managing the environments in which this work is done!) www.eventbrite.com.au/e/researcher...

We've been working behind the scenes to create our blog page: blog.srnmidlands.com You can find blog posts from our members, from commentaries to reflections!

Are you involved in emotionally demanding research in academic or non-academic research contexts? We'd love to hear what you think about the feasibility of our *new* guidelines to support researcher mental health! Please share with anyone who you think may be interested!

🧠 New Guidelines to Safeguard Researchers' Mental Health ✨ View the guidelines: www.sprintproject.org/guidelines Help us evaluate their usefulness & feasibility 📋 Take part in a survey: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bham/feasi... Let’s build a more psychologically safe research culture for all!

@sharongreenwood.bsky.social And i have this paper out today, building on our work on emotionally demanding research we think about how, pedagogically, we make space to practice vulnerability and why we should www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

@SRNMidlands members! Want to present your current work and increase impact? Go present at the @mgsconference25.bsky.social!

What role do emotions play in public involvement? To what extent is PPI labour emotional labour? Join us to explore how we can recognise, value and make space for this kind of labour in research. arc-sl.nihr.ac.uk/events-train...

For those working in (or supervising) emotionally demanding research / aka sensitive or challenging research - we wrote this hoping someone might find it useful...even just to know there are others in the same boat and we're trying to get the oars going! www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-...

One of our members, Henna Chumber is pushing to transform stigma in mental health services tackling fundamental issues that shroud mental health services by addressing systemic barriers and promoting culturally sensitive practices.

Definitely a paper to read if you're embarking on emotionally demanding research doi.org/10.1080/1748...

Really happy to see this paper published today! We identified best practices to promote researchers' mental health in emotionally demanding research. Thank you to all involved in this project, especially the participants for their invaluable expertise! 🔗 Read the paper here: doi.org/10.1080/1748...

A great opportunity for students to present their work! Submissions include poster presentations, flash talks or longer 15/20 minute talks!

*️⃣*️⃣*️⃣ AE FORUM (52.1): I Was Wrong *️⃣*️⃣*️⃣ A Vicarious Scar: Secondary trauma and ethnographic care in fieldwork by Erin Routon @erinrouton.bsky.social #anthrosky Find it here: ⬇️ americanethnologist.org/journal/issu...

Join our next webinar to learn how address the ethical & practical challenges related to open science & sharing of qualitative data. We'll discuss real-world dilemmas, new frameworks & methodological approaches to handling sensitive data. Register at: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Potentially interested in running a seminar for PGRs and ECRs on conducting emotionally demanding research with @srnmidlands.bsky.social. Brainstorming what would be most useful for us 🤔🤔

Research on extremism, radicalization or terrorism is emotionally demanding and can even become dangerous. Find out how the safety of researchers and participants can be improved in the new PRIF Blog article by Reem Ahmed, Mona Klöckner & Manjana Sold. blog.prif.org/2024/02/08/h...

How can research involving people who are dying be done in a safe and sensitive way? A Wellcome-funded researcher shares practical insights into navigating research on end-of-life care in our latest ‘Behind the Research’ ⤵️ www.linkedin.com/pulse/sensit...

Read here 👇to find out about my experiences of delivering a PGR seminar on behalf of the Emotionally Demanding Research Network! medium.com/soeresearch/...

I’m excited to share my PhD research project at the @imh-uob.bsky.social at the @unibirmingham.bsky.social. Huge thanks to @geraldjordan.bsky.social , @matthewbroome.bsky.social & Dr Sian Lowri Griffiths for their support on this project. Please feel free to share!

On Tues 29 Apr, Warwick Uni's COPR is hosting a free 1-day seminar for postgrads/ECRs conducting police research. Build networks & present to a friendly multidisciplinary audience. Travel bursaries available. Abstract deadline: 7 Mar warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa... @mgsesrcdtp.bsky.social

Our call for papers for the 2025 conference is now open! The theme for this year is: (Extra)Ordinary Experiences? Approaching Everyday Lives In Social Science Research For more information see: warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa... @mgsesrcdtp.bsky.social

New blog post up about the start of SRN Midlands! www.srnmidlands.com/our-work/blo...

As a PhD student you have access to a huge range of training opportunities to develop your skills. Perhaps you need to expand your expertise to best complete your project, or maybe you’d like to learn something completely new.

An interesting piece on (self-) reflection / reflexivity in sensitive research. It highlights the complexities and importance of reflexive practices

Delighted to announce that the INQYR UK symposium focused on LGBTQ+ health & well-being will be held in Birmingham on May 22nd - in time for Birmingham Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Call for abstracts now open: 🔗 Submission: tinyurl.com/INQYRUK-2025 🗓️Deadline: Feb 28, 2025 Symposium registration will open soon!

Research involving sensitive topics is critical if we are to really understand children’s experiences and support positive change. But this work must be done with significant care. If your work involves research and children, then take a look at our latest paper: www.unicef.org/innocenti/re...

Our interdisciplinary backgrounds span the social sciences; however, our main concern involves conducting research on sensitive or emotionally demanding topics. View our members at ↳ www.srnmidlands.com/about#h.vzvc...

This is behind a paywall but I have read a fair bit about resilience - particularly admire the work of Micheal Ungar. His research suggests we need an ecological and culturally sensitive understanding - resilience always develops in context + is collective as well as individual

Queer & working on a proposal for conflict-related research? Interested in doing conflict research with queer communities? Read Maureen Freed's open-access resource guide, including 12 questions to help researchers gauge readiness for sensitive research. bit.ly/3VDGGeG

Reflexive Thematic analysis: Methodological coherence can be facilitated by striving to be knowing – thoughtful, deliberative, reflexive and theoretically aware – practitioners and appraisers of reflexive thematic analysis. #research #phdchat #hpm #hapc buff.ly/43hzVSe

It looks like I'll be doing a "Reflexivity and Positionality in Quantitative Research" talk roadshow in 2025. Starting with an invited seminar at FemQuant in March. Love having this conversations so very much femquant.wordpress.com/seminar-seri...

Our website is now live! Members will get access to a members area with additional information and resources. Visit us at: ↳ www.srnmidlands.com

💭 Who are we? The Sensitive Research Network is a network of PhD students across the MGS ESRC DTP who are researching complex and emotionally demanding topics across the social sciences.