We are SRN Midlands (the Sensitive Research Network), a collective of PhD students from the Midlands who are researching complex and emotionally demanding topics across the social sciences. We aim to meet regularly to discuss the intersecting methodological and ethical issues we face, support each other, share information and knowledge, and create a welcoming space in a peer-led informal setting. Although we are not a support network, we aim to support each other through peer-learning and sharing of information and experiences.
Members also have access to the SRN Midlands blog. This is a space for any member to reflect on the personal and professional sides of academic life. We welcome reflections on fieldwork, commentaries or simply updates to any work that is being conducted by our members.
Alongside more informal methods of communication, we also have a Jisc Mailing list. All members have access to the list to share opportunities, events and news with other members. It is one of many ways we try and keep members connected within and beyond the EDR community.
Our research areas span across the entire social sciences, we wecome anyone from any disciplinary background that researchers sensitive or emotionally demanding topics.
Honour based abuse and forced marriage in the UK
Malignant alienation of psychosis in mental healthcare settings
Exploring memory for sexual violence and metamemory processes along the reporting pathway
Online violent extremist content
Social determinants of youth suicide
Ethnographic research within specialist police forces
Evaluating a newly developed Domestic Abuse links to Suicide Screening Tool
Investigating the institution of predictive (criminal) justice
We work as a collective to shape the future of the network. Our current lead is Adam Chen.
This website and brand were built in 2024 by Adam Chen. It was last updated in June 2025. To access the brand toolkit, including its guidelines, please email Adam (srn.midlands@gmail.com)