Her principal areas of research are Marine Biology/ Ecology and Restoration Ecology and recent topics of research include restoration of seagrass and mangrove ecosystems and assessing changes in coastal landscapes. Dr. Bell has published over 125 scientific articles in refereed journals, co-edited one book, and conducted international research activities in New Zealand, Sweden, and Ghana. Dr. Bell has also served on numerous Technical Advisory Committees at the local and national levels, including serving as a member of the National Research Council Committee on Coastal Risk. In her teaching capacity she has mentored 45 graduate students and served on the graduate committee of more than 100 additional students. At USF Dr. Bell has received an Undergraduate Teaching Award, a Professional Excellence Award, a Presidential Excellence Award and an Outstanding Faculty Award (2013). As part of the Section on Biological Sciences, she was elected as an AAAS Fellow for distinguished contributions to the understanding of estuarine, salt marsh, and near-coastal habitats