Kennedy became a professor of chemistry at the University of Florida in 1991. After 11 years, he moved to the University of Michigan. He has graduated approximately 80 graduate students. Kennedy’s research focuses on developing analytical instrumentation and methods that can help solve biological problems. He is considered a leader in the field of analytical chemistry, and an expert in endocrinology, neurochemistry, and high-throughput analysis. Major contributions to analytical chemistry include affinity probe capillary electrophoresis, in vivo neurochemical measurements, and ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography. He has been a Lilly Analytical Research Fellow, Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, NSF Presidential Faculty Fellow, and AAAS Fellow.