Meghan Kelley

Meghan Kelley serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Health Sciences at Missouri State University's McQueary College of Health and Human Services in Springfield, Missouri. She teaches BMS 308 Human Physiology and conducts research bridging wildlife physiology and human health implications through reptile model systems.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Biology from Auburn University (2021)
• MS in Biology from John Carroll University (2014)
• BS in Zoology and BS in Philosophy/Sociology of Science from Michigan State University (2010-2011)

Dr. Kelley's research centers on stress physiology and sensory perception mechanisms, specifically investigating how environmental stressors impact health through endocrine, immune, and behavioral pathways. She strategically employs crocodilians and turtles as model organisms due to their trophic positioning and human-reminiscent longevity, enabling comparative studies on contaminant exposure, stress biomarkers, and chemical communication. Her work spans endocrinology, microbiome science, and behavioral ecology with direct applications to wildlife conservation and human physiological research.

Recent publications (2021-2023) reveal consistent output in specialized physiology journals, demonstrating expertise in tissue-specific stress responses, estrogen disruption effects, and reptile chemical communication. The research portfolio shows increasing methodological sophistication from morphological assessments to molecular analyses, with strong field-laboratory integration through wildlife refuge collaborations.

No scientific awards are documented in available materials.

While current student advising details are unspecified, her active publication record suggests ongoing research projects with potential student involvement. Prospective graduate students in biomedical sciences or health-related fields should contact her directly regarding opportunities in stress physiology or sensory ecology research. Her work likely involves grant-funded projects given the technical scope of recent publications.

Though no dedicated lab name or web presence is identified, her research group operates within Missouri State's School of Health Sciences facilities, utilizing partnerships with wildlife institutions for field studies. Collaborative networks with Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge researchers enable access to natural alligator populations for ecologically relevant investigations.