James R. Kellner is a professor at Brown University, where he is also the Associate Provost for Corporate Engagement. He has taught thousands of undergraduates in the life sciences and received university honors for excellence in teaching.

Kellner is a research scientist specializing in remote sensing and is a member of the Science Team for a NASA mission on the International Space Station (the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation), where he has leadership responsibility for a public-facing data product. His research has extended beyond the university, where he contributed to the founding and development of a venture-backed company focused on remote sensing in agriculture. He has experience in private-sector fundraising. His research at Brown has been supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Department of Defense, and USDA. Kellner has chaired institute-wide initiatives defining core institutional values for Brown University and how the university should use its voice publicly. He has also held departmental and institute leadership positions in graduate education and early-career development.