Thomas Kelly

Thomas Kelly is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, specializing in Biological Oceanography. His primary affiliation is with the Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA LTER) program. He earned his Ph.D. in Biogeochemical Oceanography from Florida State University (2020), an M.S. in Oceanography (2016), and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Boston College (2014).

Dr. Kelly’s research focuses on marine biogeochemical cycles, particularly the biological pump and carbon export mechanisms. He employs observational methods, including sediment traps and in situ measurements, combined with modeling approaches like ecosystem models and machine learning. His work emphasizes understanding how physical environments influence marine ecosystems and quantifying carbon sequestration pathways in subarctic and coastal regions.

His recent publications highlight advancements in quantifying carbon export efficiency in the Gulf of Alaska, salp-driven carbon sequestration in the Southern Ocean, and lateral advection impacts in open-ocean systems. Collaborative projects include studies on Sargassum biogeochemistry and nutrient dynamics in the western Atlantic.

Dr. Kelly advises four graduate students and has mentored lab members in technical roles like filmography and field sampling. He actively develops open-source tools for oceanographic data analysis, including R packages for grid mapping and shipboard data logging.