Dr. Kelly is focused on conducting environmental impact assessment of energy generation and consumption systems. His research includes modeling the electrical grid, transportation networks (including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles), and renewable energy technologies in order to calculate the impacts of those systems on pollutant emissions. His interests are related to understanding designed systems, especially quantifying a system's environmental impact, and determining how user behavior influences a system's environmental impact. His background in optimization, mechanical engineering design, and preference assessment continue to influence the type of work that he pursues.  Dr. Kelly has taught mechanical engineering design at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and assisted in several optimization and design courses at the University of Michigan.