Kellen started his academic career at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) where he received a Bachelor’s degree in physical anthropology. The emphasis of his studies was the evolution of the human brain and human behavior. Immediately following graduation, Kellen took a position at UCSB in the Neuroscience Research Institute where he studied diseases of the retina. After two years of work at UCSB, Kellen moved to Vancouver, British Columbia to work for a year on a project at the University of British Columbia studying a laboratory model of stroke.

Following his experience in Vancouver, Kellen decided to transition from biomedical research to a computational/mathematical field. Initially, he took a position as an engineering technician for a firm in Anacortes, WA where he worked on a variety of projects including the development of an experimental electric vehicle and a high-speed, low-wake passenger ferry. Currently, Kellen is completing prerequisite courses at Bellevue College and plans to apply to graduate programs in applied mathematics in the spring. His long-term plan is to complete a doctorate, and pursue a research and teaching career in academia. When he is not working or studying, Kellen enjoys spending time with his family and trail running.