Staff Profile

I currently work as a Research Associate at the Population Health Sciences Institute within the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University. Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration of the UK, I am a part of studies that are primarily focused on the impact of gender-based violence and abuse and social inequalities on families. Under VISTA, we are evaluating innovative family-focused service integration models for adult and child Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) victim-survivors. PROTECT 2 examines effective support practices for DVA victims-survivors from practitioners' perspectives, involving observations, interviews, and document analysis. With OUTCOMES, we are investigating the impact of Outcome 16 on racially minoritized women and girls' participation in DVA investigations across the UK using a mixed-methods approach. With RIVA, we are assessing how healthcare-based IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence advisor) models in maternity services improve DVA awareness and identification among professionals and increase referrals for high-risk mothers. With SEAMS, we are exploring the barriers faced by low-income women in accessing maternity services and identifying solutions to improve access.

I come from an interdisciplinary education (and practice) background spanning social sciences and statistical sciences and have experience in using a range of qualitative, quantitative, and visual research methods. My PhD in Sociology from Lancaster University, titled “Towards an explanation of marital violence against women: A case study of Assam, India”, employed qualitative methodology as the primary methodology and photographs as an illustrative tool. Informed by the Critical Grounded Theory methodology that is based on the philosophy of Critical Realism, the research aimed to understand how women who face marital violence deal with it and analysed how such violences occur and are maintained or resisted by highlighting the structural factors that support and sustain marital violence more explicitly.

I have previous work experience in research, advocacy, and project management on issues related to gender and violence, human rights and conflict, migration, and the informal labour sector. I have often integrated visual methods with traditional research methods – producing and designing comprehensive and holistic research reports with the specific aim of disseminating findings to different audiences.

Qualifications:

BSc (Hons) Statistics, University of Delhi (2005)

MSc Operational Research, University of Delhi (2007)

MA Sociology, Lancaster University (2017)

PhD Sociology, Lancaster University (2023)

Research Interests:

Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse                                                                               

Gender-based violence

Mixed methods

Critical Realism

South Asia/ India



• Articles

  • Mayrhofer A, Mansuri N, Sarma K, Smiles C, Alderson H, Kaner E, McGovern R. Implementing family safeguarding in the context of domestic violence and abuse: A case study of a local authority in England. British Journal of Social Work 2025, epub ahead of print.
  • Sarma K, McGovern R, Smart D, McGovern W, Barrett S, Kaner E, Cooling V, Thomason P, Hackett S, Alderson H. A Qualitative Exploration of the Implications of a Differential Multi–Agency Understanding and Interpretation of Domestic Abuse. Journal of Family Violence 2025, epub ahead of print.

• Authored Book

  • Sarma K. Understanding Marital Violence: A Case Study from Northeast India. London: Routledge, 2024.

• Report

  • Alderson H, Smiles C, Sarma K, D'Souza N, McGovern W, Gangoli G, McGovern R. Understanding the impact of Outcome 16 on racially minoritised women’s participation in Domestic Abuse investigations. Manchester: N8 Policing Research Partnership, 2025.

• Review

  • Mayrhofer AM, Alderson H, Sarma K, Jackson C, Olive P, Toma M, Mansuri N, Waterfield A, Crossen S, Parker D, Forder J, Kaner E, Miller R, Gabbay M, Akeju D, McGovern R. What are the Factors Influencing Service Provider Response to Working with Families Affected by Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse? A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Literature. Journal of Family Violence 2024, epub ahead of print.