Born and raised in Davis, Kelly developed an appreciation for aquatic ecology by exploring Putah Creek as a child. She earned her B.S. in Ecology and Evolution from UC Santa Cruz in 2020 and worked as a scientific aid for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife before starting graduate school at UC Davis. Kelly’s graduate research focuses on the effects of impaired streamflow on rainbow trout physiology, behavior, and condition. She aims to conduct research with practical conservation implications that will help managers and policy makers better care for aquatic habitats and the species that depend upon them.