SRN Midlands Research Day
SRN Midlands Research Day
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By Madeleine Ingham and Adam Chen
(December 16, 2025)
Summary
Summary
In this commentary we reflect on our research day that we carried out on the 8th December. The Research Day was a fantastic space for PGRs and ECRs to come together around the challenges of emotionally demanding research. Across panel discussions, practical strategies for preparation and self‑care, a reflexivity workshop, and a research showcase, the day highlighted how vital community, reflection, and wellbeing are when working with sensitive topics. It was great to see such openness, shared learning, and support among researchers at different stages reminding us that we’re not navigating EDR alone. Huge thanks to the speakers, organisers, and attendees for creating such an encouraging and thoughtful environment.
Last Monday, Adam Chen and Madeleine Ingham ran an SRN Midlands hosted PGR and ECR Research Day on Emotionally Demanding Research (EDR). The event brought together University of Birmingham and Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP students and ECRs for a reflective and practical day of learning.
A key aim of the event was to build community around emotionally demanding research. Working with sensitive topics or lived experience can often feel isolating, particularly for PGRs and early career researchers. This research day created space to share challenges openly, reflect collectively, and remind attendees that they are not navigating EDR alone.
Session 1: Panel discussion on conducting EDR and best practices.
Dr Sarah Rockowitz, Dr Laura Stevens, Dr Saba Hussain, and Dr Barbara Sandland opened the day with an honest and engaging discussion chaired by Madeleine. Drawing on their extensive experience, they addressed questions around staying grounded when handling distressing topics, preventing secondary trauma, navigating ethics with researcher wellbeing in mind, managing positionality and lived experience, and maintaining emotional boundaries with participants.
Session 2: Being prepared for emotionally demanding research.
Dr Amy Burrell built on the panel discussion by outlining what constitutes emotionally demanding research and sharing practical strategies for preparation and self-care, grounded in both research and personal experience.
Session 3: Making space for (self-)reflexive practice in emotionally demanding and sensitive research.
Dr Katharina Karcher explored the importance and nuances of reflexivity, followed by a hands-on session where participants practised reflexive methods through journaling or peer discussion.
Session 4: Research Showcase.
The day concluded with attendee research presentations and reflections on the emotionally demanding aspects of their work—particularly valuable for those at the early stages of their PhD and for fostering peer connection and mutual support.
Key takeaways from participants:
Key takeaways from participants:
“Being more intentional about planning, to protect boundaries”
“Unexpected topics can be emotionally demanding”
“Emotionally demanding research is not just academically challenging it requires emotional awareness, sensitivity and robust support systems”
“It helped me understand how I can effectively plan ethical EDR in a way that maximises participant and researcher wellbeing. It also helped me think about tools/techniques I can use e.g. self-reflexivity. It was also incredibly helpful for networking with other researchers engaging in EDR”
Comments from Adam and Madeleine:
Comments from Adam and Madeleine:
"I think hearing about compassion fatigue from other researchers who work with sensitive material reassured my own experiences"
"Seeing the range of research areas made me consider my understanding of sensitive research and helped to expand the panel to research outside of psychology"
"It was nice to meet other MGS researchers also working with EDR – feels like there is a more of a community"
Thank you to our speakers and attendees for creating such an open and supportive space, and thank you to the ESRC, whose ESRC DTP Doctoral Event Grant made this event possible.
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