Investigating information support tools for emergency patient handovers

We are recruiting a PhD student from a relevant human-computer interaction, informatics, design, social or behavioural science background to join a research project investigating state-of-the-art technology systems that meet the needs of emergency healthcare practitioners during handovers—events when responsibility is transferred from one team to another. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the project collaborator Retrieval Services Queensland—a large, helicopter-based rescue organisation that conducts advanced retrieval missions throughout the state.

This project will focus on processes in the prehospital to hospital patient pathway during which patients, resources, and information need to be smoothly transferred between teams. Difficulties can arise at each handover because of high time pressure, the incompatibility of technological and organisational structures, or the diverging aims of the individuals involved.

The project will explore the capabilities of technologies such as machine learning or ubiquitous computing in designing ICT tools to support handovers. The PhD student will collect and analyse data to inform the design of an intelligent support system and the creation of an integrated framework of criteria and considerations that can be applied to multiple-jurisdiction handovers.

The successful candidate will gather insights through field research in prehospital and hospital environments. They will also conduct co-design processes with healthcare and allied health professionals and develop technology prototypes that will improve the flow of people/patients, resources, and information. The scholarship is part of ARC Discovery Project DP220102349 “Information support tools for the trauma patient pathway”.

This is an Earmarked scholarship project that aligns with a recently awarded Australian Government grant.

The scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $32,192 per annum tax free (2023 rate), indexed annually
• your tuition fees covered
• single overseas student health cover (OSHC).

Learn more about the Earmarked scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis taking into account your:

• academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history.

Working knowledge of human-centred design of technologies including prototyping, development and evaluation, and qualitative fieldwork research and analysis would be beneficial.

You'll demonstrate academic achievement in human-computer interaction, design, informatics, social science, or behavioural science, and the potential for scholastic success.

This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Quarter 1, 2024. To allow time for your application to be processed, we recommend applying no later than 30 September, 2023 31 July, 2023.

You can start in an earlier research quarter. See application dates.

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. Contact Ben Matthews (matthews@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for a PhD. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• My higher degree is not collaborative
• I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship
• UQ Earmarked Scholarship type.

Apply now