Linda Wegley Kelly

Linda Wegley Kelly is an Associate Researcher at the Marine Biology Department of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Her research focuses on microbial influences on coral reef ecosystems, employing molecular approaches to study biogeochemical interactions and microbial dynamics. She holds a B.S. in Biology (2004) and a Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology (2013) from San Diego State University.

Her research interests include microbial ecology, reef biogeochemistry, and symbiotic interactions between marine organisms. She investigates how microbial communities mediate nutrient cycling and ecosystem resilience, particularly under environmental stressors like warming and eutrophication.

Her work spans coral restoration techniques, microbial metabolism of dissolved organic matter, and the role of viruses in reef ecosystems. Recent studies highlight coral-microbe interactions, microbial responses to climate change, and the development of innovative substrates for larval settlement.

Dr. Kelly collaborates on NSF-funded projects, including studies on microbial metabolisms and reef restoration engineering. Her lab explores molecular-level processes linking microbial activity to ecosystem health, with implications for coral reef conservation.

Her research has been published in high-impact journals, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches combining field studies, genomics, and advanced analytical chemistry.