She runs an evolutionary genomics laboratory that focuses on high-throughput genome sequencing and computational approaches to analyzing big data in genomics. Her research focuses on understanding the genomic basis for adaptation to extreme environments. She received her B.A. in mathematics and biology with honors from Brown University, working with Johanna Schmitt. She earned her Ph.D. in Genome Sciences from the University of Washington under Willie Swanson. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago in Human Genetics with Molly Przeworski, she received a National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. Dr. Kelley was also a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University with Carlos Bustamante.