Kelsey was a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology at the University of California Riverside, working with Dr. Jason Stajich. She received her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida, where she was mentored by Dr. Bryan Kolaczkowski. For her Ph.D. she studied the molecular-functional evolution of proteins involved in miRNA biogenesis, as part of the RNA interference pathway. She received her B.S. in Biology from Winthrop University, including minors in chemistry and german. While at Winthrop University she worked in the lab of Dr. Jason Hurlbert, where she used crystallographic and computational techniques to investigate the structure of two xylanases involved in the pathogenesis of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri - a causative agent of citrus canker. Her projects focused on comparative genomics in Coccidioides, Onygenales, and Fungal evolution.
In her personal time she enjoys several hobbies, including crafting (crocheting, cross-stitch, puzzles), hiking with her dog, mushroom hunting/identification attempts, reading mystery/thriller novels, and playing video/computer/board games. She originally hails from Aiken, South Carolina.
Kelsey completed her work in the Stajich lab in 2023 and is currently working for Computercraft Corporation.