Keilen Kelly
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Mail code: 4501Campus: Tempe
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Full-time microbiology graduate student experienced with teaching and laboratory research. Pursuing a career in academia. Interested in bacterial genetics, cell physiology, and data science.
ARCS Scholar: 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25
Certified instructor for Data Carpentry
Microbiology Ph.D., Arizona State University, exp. 2025
Microbiology B.S., Brigham Young University, 2019
My research focuses on a mutation in the RNA polymerase of Escherichia coli that allows cells to tolerate high salt concentrations, high temperatures, and even exposure to antibiotics. My research helps us gain a better understanding of the mechanisms by which bacteria are able to survive stress, which allows us to more effectively prevent food contamination, combat infections, and mitigate the threat of antibiotic resistance.
Nguyen D, Kelly K, Qiu N, Misra R. 2020. YejM controls LpxC levels by regulating protease activity of the FtsH/YciM complex of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 202:e00303-20. https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1128/JB.00303-20.
Vuppada, R. K., Hansen, C. R., Strickland, K. A., Kelly, K. M., & McCleary, W. R. (2018). Phosphate signaling through alternate conformations of the PstSCAB phosphate transporter. BMC Microbiology, 18(1). doi:10.1186/s12866-017-1126-z
Courses
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher Seminar |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar Seminar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow Seminar |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice Seminar |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice Seminar |
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher Seminar |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar Seminar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow Seminar |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher Seminar |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar Seminar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow Seminar |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice Seminar |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice Seminar |
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher Seminar |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar Seminar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow Seminar |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher Seminar |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar Seminar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow Seminar |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice Seminar |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice Seminar |
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher Seminar |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar Seminar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow Seminar |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice |
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice |
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice |
| BIO 189 | SOLUR Apprentice |
| BIO 289 | SOLUR Researcher |
| BIO 389 | SOLUR Scholar |
| BIO 489 | SOLUR Fellow |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIO 181 | General Biology I |
| BIO 181 | General Biology I |
Kelly, K & Misra, R. RNA polymerase mutation in E. coli confers osmotic stress tolerance independent of RpoS. American Society for Microbiology, Arizona and Southern Nevada Branch. Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2024. (oral presentation).
Kelly, K. & Misra, R. Highly osmotic tolerant E. coli RNA polymerase mutants. American Society for Microbiology, Arizona and Southern Nevada Branch. Virtual meeting, April 2021. (poster presentation).
Kelly, K., Dean, B., Wood, J., & McCleary, W. R. Use of ScPPX to quantify polyphosphate accumulation in E. coli strains with mutations in phosphate homeostasis. TriBranch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Provo, Utah, April 2019. (poster presentation).
Kelly, K., Wood, J., & McCleary, W.R. Phosphate homeostasis mediated by transporter YjbB and polyphosphate sequestration. TriBranch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Durango, Colorado, April 2018. (poster presentation).
2022-2025 Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholarship
2021 Harry Lowell Swift Advancing Health Scholarship
2019 School of Life Sciences Fellowship, Arizona State University
2018 College Undergraduate Research Award, Brigham Young University
2021-present American Society for Microbiology, Arizona and Southern Nevada Branch
2024-present Certified Data Carpentry instructor, The Carpentries initiative
Speaker for students at Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix, AZ
- “Graduate experience in Microbiology”, guest speaker for Paradise Valley High School CREST’s Microbiology course, Phoenix AZ (October 2023)
- “Bacterial Staining and Morphology”, guest speaker for Paradise Valley High School CREST’s Microbiology course, Phoenix, AZ (April and October 2020)
- “From CREST to a Ph.D.”, guest speaker for Paradise Valley High School CREST’s Microbiology course, Phoenix AZ (December 2019)
Research mentor for high school microbiology capstone projects at Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix, AZ
Volunteer for “Ask A Biologist” at Arizona State University
Volunteer teacher for Graduate Partners in Science Education (GPSE) at Arizona State University