Who makes JEK Systems
Applied physicists and engineers who build the instruments they design, from the photodiode to the firmware to the mount.
Dr Joe Kelly
Director. Optics, electronics and systems engineering
Applied physicist and systems engineer with hands-on expertise in optoelectronics, photonics and embedded electronics. Experienced in full-stack system development, from laser-based sensor design to analogue and digital circuit prototyping and PCB layout, with a track record in R&D leadership, cross-functional collaboration and patented technologies in quantum and optical systems.
Publications and patents
Zhenan Chen, Sophie Sanghera, Yanhui Hu, Maryam Nikkhou, Alex Gee, David Burt, Qiongyuan Wu, Joseph Kelly and James Millen (2026). Optomechanical levitation and control of high aspect ratio silicon nanorods. arXiv preprint arXiv:2608.07415.
Joseph Kelly, James Millen, Andrew Chew and Hannah Vandenwijngaerden (2025). Nanoobject trap and method of confining a nanoobject. UK Patent Application GB2500417.7, filed 13 January 2025, UK Intellectual Property Office.
Joseph Kelly, Eleanor Fradgley, Lida Zhang and Vincent Boyer (2025). Mode hitching in traveling-wave optical parametric amplification. Physical Review A, 111(3), 033523. doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.111.033523
Joseph Kelly (2024). Propagation effects within an extended optical amplifier and their impact on the spatial distribution of squeezing: towards quantum imaging. PhD thesis, University of Birmingham.
Media and outreach
Science communication and outreach are vital for inspiring optimism about research and encouraging investment in it. Some of Joe’s activities in that space:
Joseph Kelly (2024). Interview on Sun, sea... and science, BBC Radio 4, 4 July 2024. bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020pfy
Joseph Kelly, with the King’s College London Department of Physics team (2024). The Unseen Wonders of Light, exhibitor at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, London, 2–7 July 2024: optical and electrical levitation of nanoparticles and microdiamonds, and the chirality of light and matter, shown to thousands of public and scientific visitors. kcl.ac.uk: King’s scientists dazzle and amaze
Join the team
Optical, electronic or mechanical engineering
We take on people who like to see a design through to a working instrument. If that is you, write to us with what you have built and what you would like to build next.
[email protected]