Kenny BarleeView profile
Research Fellow
Kenny Barlee is a Research Fellow in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, where he conducts research in the Software Defined Radio Laboratory. His work is centered on software-defined radio, cognitive radio, dynamic spectrum access, and rural 5G network deployment. He played a key role in the 5G RuralFirst project, contributing to the development of one of the UK’s first rural 5G networks in Orkney, Shropshire, and Somerset. PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde (2020) BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Strathclyde (2014) His research focuses on enabling affordable mobile connectivity in rural areas through shared and licensed spectrum, neutral hosting, and SDR technologies. He has developed cognitive radios using MATLAB and Simulink deployed on ZynqSDR devices, with applications in secondary user access to the FM radio band. His work in 5G RuralFirst involved full-stack network design, from SIM cards to core networks, including RF planning, basestation programming, and bespoke security solutions. The recent publications highlight advancements in private 5G for broadcast, low-latency wireless production, and SDR system control on RFSoC platforms. These works reflect a strong trend toward practical, deployable solutions in broadcast engineering, rural connectivity, and FPGA-based SDR prototyping. Kenny Barlee has co-authored a free 670-page SDR textbook, Software Defined Radio using MATLAB & Simulink and the RTL-SDR , and has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed journals and conferences. His industrial experience includes an internship at MathWorks and teaching SDR courses at UCLA. He leads the development of innovative systems such as the "PiFi" modem kits for drones and tour buses and a portable popup 5G network trailer for RF trials. His work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education and infrastructure development.






