PhD Studentship: Enhancing Emergency Response Through Technology-Enabled Communication and Coordination During Major Incidents

University of Birmingham - Department of Applied Health Sciences

Effective response to major incidents depends not only on clinical capability but also on communication and coordination across complex, multi-agency systems. Failures in information flow, shared situational awareness, and interoperability are repeatedly identified in post-incident reviews and inquiries.

Aligned with Theme 2 (RESPOND) of the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emergency Preparedness and Response, this PhD will examine how technology-enabled communication tools can improve coordination during major incidents, with a particular focus on equity, inclusivity and trust. The central research question is how digital and data-enabled tools can support faster, clearer and more inclusive coordination without increasing cognitive burden or excluding disadvantaged groups.

The project will combine systems mapping, empirical research and applied evaluation. It will study real-world response structures involving health services, local authorities and national agencies, and assess where communication bottlenecks and failures arise. Building on this understanding, the student will evaluate existing and emerging technological solutions (e.g. dashboards, shared situational awareness platforms, alerting systems) and explore how they are perceived and used by responders.

Through simulation-based studies and stakeholder engagement, the project will generate evidence-based recommendations for designing and implementing communication tools that are operationally effective, ethically robust and sensitive to health inequalities. The findings will directly inform UKHSA practice and national guidance for emergency response coordination. The work aligns with the UK Government Resilience Action Plan which recognises that the UK cannot perfectly predict how risks will unfold, and across all risks requires common systems and tools to respond using an ‘all hazards’ approach.

For more information, please see: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/nihr-health-protection-research-unit-in-emergency-preparedness-and-response

Supervisors: Justine Davies (University of Birmingham); Holly Carter (UKHSA); Antonio Belli (University of Birmingham)

Funding notes:

Funding for this project is available for UK studentship fees (only UK fees will be paid, and any additional PhD fee costs where needed must be paid by the successful applicant). A yearly stipend based on the current UKRI rates, and a research training and support grant will also be available.

References:

1. UKHSA. Emergency Response and Coordination Frameworks.
2. National Audit Office. Lessons from Major Incidents.
3. Waring J et al. Communication failures in healthcare emergencies.
4. Amlôt R, Weston D. Trust and communication in public health crises.
5. UK Government Resilience Action Plan (Jul 2025)