Research Fellow

Our Mission

Coventry University is a global Education Group that empowers students and communities to transform their lives and society through teaching, learning, research, and enterprise.

An ambitious and innovative university, our research is designed to have real-world impact on society and tackle global challenges through our 16 challenge-led, interdisciplinary research centres. We enable high performing research teams and future research leaders to thrive and make an impact locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.

The Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities (CFTC) at Coventry University has secured a prestigious Road Safety Trust grant for the project “In-Situ Mobile Application for the Triage of Pedestrians in Vehicle Collision (SENTINEL).”

The Role

Beginning on 1st November 2025, we will be hiring a Research Fellow (fixed-term, 2 years) to join the SENTINEL team at CFTC.

This major collaborative effort brings together Coventry University (CU), University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW), West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), and The Air Ambulance Services (TAAS). The goal: to design and deliver cutting-edge roadside triage and forensic technology that transforms how pedestrian head injuries are assessed.

Why SENTINEL Matters

In 2022, UK road incidents killed 376 pedestrians and injured over 19,000. The cost to society is immense, £2.2M per death and over £260k per serious injury. Worse, 8.5% of victims are mis-triaged, leading to delays in care and the wrong hospital destinations. Within 28 days of a collision, 3.8% of victims die, and 4.7% suffer life-altering traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

SENTINEL aims to change this. We're building a mobile triage tool that enables paramedics and Emergency Department (ED) teams to assess pedestrian brain injuries faster and more accurately at the roadside.

What You’ll Help Build

This advanced mobile triage application will be developed in four key stages:

• Computational Modelling: Use Toyota’s state-of-the-art open-access skull and brain model to simulate TBI based on past pedestrian crash data.
• Machine Learning Integration: Translate this complex trauma data into a fast, lightweight ML model suitable for real-time use.
• Data and Systems Innovation: Build new processes to capture visual collision evidence and link it with hospital Electronic Patient Records (EPR), creating a unique trauma-based collision dataset.
• Deployment and Testing: Validate the ML tool with real-world data and integrate it into a mobile interface for use by ambulance teams in the field.
• You will focus on converting detailed trauma data (injury profiles, images, pedestrian kinematics, etc.) into smart, ML-driven algorithms. You’ll also lead the development of a web-based interface that delivers instant TBI assessments and is fully optimised for mobile devices used by paramedics.

We aim to hold the interviews week commencing 8th September 2025

Our Successful Candidate

What We’re Looking For

• Essential: Strong experience in AI/ML and Python programming.
• Desirable: Background in human body modelling, LS-DYNA or OASYS, explicit FE simulations, and knowledge of real-time or edge computing.
• Proven track record in publishing and collaboration.
• Ability to engage with national and international research networks.

Why Join CFTC?

CFTC is a leader in transport safety innovation. We received the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award 2021 for our work in pedestrian triage. You will be part of a dynamic, impactful project that is shaping the future of emergency care.

The Benefits

As a staff member of Coventry University, you will have access to a wide range of industry leading rewards and benefits which includes:

• Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
• 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
• Life Assurance 4 x Salary
• BUPA Cash Plan
• 50% off Tuition Fee’s for staff dependants
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/ Online Retailers
• New Electric Car Scheme
• Cycle To work scheme

Our Culture

As a global Education Group, equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the fabric of our organisation and are a key focus of our core values. We harness the power and potential of the diverse cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of our students, colleagues, and partners to create opportunities for all.

To apply please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.