Assistant Professor
he/him
Focus Areas
- Earth System Science
- Catastrophes, Conservation & Conflict
- Sustainability & Global Environmental Change
Areas of Specialization
- Climatology
- Extremes
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
Educational Background
- Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Geography & Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2016
- PhD in Geography, University of Florida, 2015
- M.S. in Geography, University of Florida, 2010
- B.S. in Environmental Studies, University of Central Florida, 2007
Research Statement
Improving our understanding of climate extremes is a critical challenge. Extremes such as heat waves, hurricanes, floods, and droughts are rare, but have disproportionately large impacts on the health of society and the environment. Through my research I explore climate extremes with an emphasis on linkages between extremes and driving physical mechanisms and on quantifying the contribution of climate change versus modes of natural variability. I enjoy working in interdisciplinary teams and my own strengths lie in utilizing innovative methods including Machine Learning and Extreme Value Theory to improve our understanding of climate extremes and better prepare society for their impacts.
Recent Funded Projects
Developing the Drought Risk Overview Product (DROP): Improving Flash Drought Forecasts and Early Warning Using Machine Learning and Extreme Value Theory Techniques. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SBIR Research Grant 2023-2024 ($58,000). PI: Keellings, Co-PI: Engström
Epigenetic response to extreme heat and its role in heat-related metabolic dysfunction: A paired human and mouse study. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Grant 2023-2024 ($30,849). PI: Keellings
A Spatiotemporal Investigation of Heat Wave Dynamics. National Science Foundation, 2019-2023 ($340,528.00). PI: Keellings, Co-PI: Bunting
Recent Publications
Narayanan A., Rezaali M., Bunting E.L., Keellings D. (2025). It’s Getting Hot in Here: Spatial Impact of Humidity on Heat Wave Severity in the United States. Science of the Total Environment, 963, 178397.
O’Flanagan A., Senkbeil J., Keellings D. (2024). Understanding Public Attention to Heat Wave Information. Papers in Applied Geography, 1-15.
Bunting E.L., Tolmanov V., Keellings D. (2024). What is a Heat Wave: A Survey and Literature Synthesis of Heat Wave Definitions across the United States. PLOS Climate, 3(9).
Rezaali, M., Jahangir, M.S., Fouladi-Fard, R. and Keellings, D. (2024). An ensemble deep learning approach to spatiotemporal tropospheric ozone forecasting: A case study of Tehran, Iran. Urban Climate, 55, 101950.
Moragoda N., Jones C., Liu Y., Stanley L., Keellings D. (2024). Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Gulf of Mexico’s Water Quality: A Review. Southeastern Geographer, 1-15.
Narayanan, A., Peter, B. G., & Keellings, D. (2024). A Climate Extremes Resilience Index for the Conterminous United States. Weather, Climate, and Society, 16(1), 87-103.
Current Graduate Students
PhD
Masters
Currently accepting applications for graduate students