Melissa Kelly

Melissa Kelly serves as an Assistant Professor in the Biological Science department at Allegany College of Maryland, actively contributing to the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program which integrates authentic research into undergraduate curricula.

Her research spans critical domains in modern biology:

• Genomics
• Phage Biology
• Evolutionary Science
• Science Education

Through the SEA-PHAGES initiative, Dr. Kelly develops and implements educational resources including the Phage Discovery Guide, Bioinformatics Guide, and Phage Genomics Guide, enabling students to isolate bacteriophages and conduct genomic analyses. She participates in key program events such as the annual Phage Genomics Workshop and SEA Symposium, fostering collaborative research networks across institutions.

As a core SEA team member, she supports nationwide implementation of the curriculum, mentoring students in hands-on phage research while advancing science education pedagogy through HHMI-funded initiatives that emphasize genomic literacy and evolutionary studies.