Martin Robinson

It’s an ESTSS 2023 Belfast special as we meet Dr Martin Robinson, Research Fellow at the Stress, Trauma, and Related Conditions (STARC) Research Centre, Queen’s University Belfast.

What do you currently do?

I am currently a Research Fellow on the Estudio de la Vida Bajo Estres (MI-VIDA, Life Following Stress) study. This case-control study investigates biopsychosocial risk and resiliency factors for PTSD among those exposed to conflict-related trauma in Colombia.

How would you explain that in ten words or fewer?

Investigate traumatic stress, and resilience, among hidden and hard-to-reach groups.

How and why did you end up working in trauma?

I was interested in mental health from the beginning. I then developed some interest in psychotrauamtology as an undergraduate and took up a research assistant position in this area. I fell in love with the area, continuing to carry out work with military veterans and trauma-exposed marginalised groups through my PhD and Post-doc roles.

What are you currently working on?

My primary role currently is on the MI-VIDA project, facilitating an international collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast and Universidad de Los Andes. We are currently in the midst of longitudinal recruitment for this case-control study, and I coordinate with our study partners to facilitate data collection and linkage.

Additionally, I have been researching traumatic stress following pregnancy loss with collaborators from the QUB School of Nursing and Midwifery. I am very passionate about this work, and was excited to take this opportunity outside my core role. This has led to some pre-prints with the groups and a flash talk on the impact of miscarriage that will be presented at ESTSS2023.

Lastly, I have been part of the Local Organising Committee for ESTSS 2023 taking place here in Belfast. This has been very rewarding work, it has been great seeing the new and exciting research happening in the field of psychotraumatology, and I am looking forward to welcoming so many researchers to Belfast in June.

You’ve been heavily involved in the organisation of ESTSS 2023 in Belfast, as you mentioned.  What should we expect from the conference?

A jam-packed schedule around the theme of “Trauma and resilience through the ages”.  There are several talks and symposiums around this theme with a lot of interest to clinicians and researchers who work in the area.

We will also have an exciting social programme hosting an ESTSS anniversary celebration in Belfast’s City Hall, and a Gala Dinner with entertainment in the Hilton Hotel. I think that people have high expectations of this conference because it is really the first ESTSS in-person conference after COVID – they will definitely not be disappointed.

It really has been a long time in the planning, and the programme looks really exciting.  Do you have any tips for people attending, especially with a wide variety of different topic streams?

Attendees should of course review the conference programme before attending to make sure they don’t miss out on any talks or events in their area. There is an exciting mix of presentations including workshops, keynotes, symposiums, and flash talks that are sure to appeal widely. Also, the public lecture should be excellent as it will really set trauma research in Northern Ireland in context and show how the city of Belfast has been the ideal location.

After an exciting day at the conference, I also encourage everyone to get out and explore Belfast! It is a beautiful city with friendly people, and attendees should make use of their time here to also have fun outside the conference programme. There is information to be found on what to do in Belfast via the conference website. If attendees can manage, I suggest fitting a day or two before or after the conference to really enjoy Northern Ireland. The one thing we can’t guarantee is the weather, but we are hoping for some summer sunshine.

Is there anything you particularly looking forward to at ESTSS 2023?

There is a wide range of talks and symposia taking place at the conference, and there is almost too much to look forward to!  The pre-conference workshops are particularly exciting to me though with a great mix of topics covered. I will be chairing one of these workshops (Escaping the Trauma Trap) which is a first for me and something I have been very excited about as we put together the materials.

Ultimately though, I am excited for the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and collaborators from across the globe after this extended period apart.

What excites you most about the field of traumatology?

Across the field, we recognise that traumatic stress is never simple. The everchanging research landscape keeps this area interesting and engaging.  I have been interested in the concept of Complex PTSD since undertaking my PhD in this area and continue to research this construct among varied trauma-exposed populations. I hope that as we better understand and assess traumatic stress, we become better at protecting and treating those exposed to potentially traumatic events, and I am excited to contribute to that development.

Where can we find your most recent publication or work?

I regularly update my institutional PURE profile with new publications, and host preprints and supplementary files for my current work via my Open Science Framework profile.

What are you currently reading?

Through work I have been reading The Other Side of Sadness by George Bonanno, an interesting test on grief and resilience, and Say My Baby’s Name by Anne Tracey, a look at how parents experience and make sense of the loss of a child in their own words.

Outside work, what’s your secret passion?

I am very passionate about my baking, and if it turns out well, eating the bakes. Over the years, I’ve learned that colleagues in STARC are also very excited about my baking and the products I bring to the centre.

And finally, if you didn’t do what you do, what would you have done?

I would probably be a school teacher. This was my original career goal, and remains a passion of mine even in my current role and I seek out opportunities to develop and deliver teaching in the university.

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