Jet Fest - Accepted Student Day - Saturday, April 27, 12pm - RSVP HERE - Chick-fil-A, Kona-Ice

Tomoko Bell

I am originally from Tokyo, Japan where I received my Ph.D. in Earth Science with a concentration in biology from the University of Tokyo. I have a broad interest in biology. Some of my interests are; extremophiles (organisms thriving in extreme environments) on Earth and their application for medical research, and possible life search on other planets. Also, anything related to the oceans and marine biology fascinates me.

I love helping others and assisting my students to make their dreams come true. Also, I am leading the movement called "Open Science" that connects the public to science and makes science as inclusive and diverse as possible. I served as a subject matter expert for NASA open science curriculum development and my passion is empowering everybody through the excitement of science!

University of Tokyo
Doctor of Philosophy
Earth and Planetary Science

University of Guam
Master of Science
Environmental Science

Hokkaido University
Bachelor of Science
Marine Biological Science

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular biology
  • Medical Geology
  • Astrobiology
  • Paleoclimatology
  • Paleoceanography

  • Extremophiles and their application for astrobiology and medical research
  • Cosmic radiation and virus mutation

Peer Review

(1)Bell, T., Iguchi, A., Oono, Y., Sakai, K., Yokoyama, Y., Evolution of Mg transporters may explain biological effects on coral skeletal proxies used in paleoceanography (submitted to Royal Society of Open Science).
(2) Iguchi, A., Hayashi, M., Yorifuji, M., Nishijima, M., Kunishima, T., Bell, T., Suzuki, A., Ono, T., Evaluation of the effects of ocean acidification and deoxygenation on eggs of Japanese whiting, Sillago japonica: An approach based on comprehensive gene expression analysis, Science of Total Environment, 169484 , doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169484 (2024)
(3) Bell, T., Endo, T., Jenson, J., Lander, M., Bautista, K., Pneumatic Underwater Coral-Coring Drill, Marine Technology Society Journal, 57, 1, doi:10.4031/MTSJ.57.1.1 (2023).
(4) Gibu, K., Ikeuchi, E, Bell, T., Nakamura, T., Yoshioka, Y., Suzuki, A., Iguchi, A., Calcification rates of a massive and a branching coral species were unrelated to diversity of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates. Molecular Biology Report, 49(9), doi: 10.1007/s11033-022-07702-9 (2022).
(5) Bell, T., Do solar cycles explain the emergence of COVID-19?: Neutron count comparison between the solar minima of 2008-2009 and 2019-2020, Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health, 26, doi.org/10.1016/ j.coesh.2022.100333 (2022).
(6) Belem, A., Bell, T., Burdett, H. L., Ibarra, D., Kaushal, N., Keenan, B., Klimaszewski-Patterson, A., Mette, M., Naeher, S., Onafeso, O. D., Panmei, C., Ratnayake, A. S., Truax, O., Paleoclimatology and Paleoceanography Perspectives on Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) Science, Earth and Space Science, 9, e2021EA002115, doi:10.1029/2021EA002115 (2022).
(7) Bell, T., Manullang, C., Kumagai, N. H., Sakai, K., Suzuki, A., Iguchi, A., Calcification responses of subtropical coral species to acidified seawater: a case study of Sesoko Island, Okinawa, Japan, Galaxea Journal of Coral Reef Studies, doi:10.3755/galaxea.G2020_S2O (2021).
(8) Bell, T., Manullang, C., Sakai, K., Suzuki, A., Iguchi, A., Near-future level of pCO2 has impact on growth of primary skeleton of coral polyps (Acropora digitifera), Galaxea Journal of Coral Reef Studies, doi:10.3755/galaxea.G2020_S1N (2021).
(9) Bell, T., Lander, M., Jenson, J., Randall, R., Partin, J., Prouty, N., A 50-Year Sr/Ca time series from an enclosed, shallow-water Guam coral: in situ monitoring and extraction of a temperature trend, annual cycle, and ENSO and PDO signals, Journal of Coastal Research 35 (2), 269–286, doi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-16-00099.1 (2019).
(10) Bell, T., Iguchi, A., Suzuki, A., Seki, A., Yokoyama, Y., Testing possible relationship between Acropora digitifera genes, seawater chemistry and skeletal elements, Geochemical Journal 52 (3), doi:10.2343/geochemj.2.0511 (2018).
(11) Bell, T., Nishida, K., Ishikawa, K., Suzuki, A., Nakamura, T., Sakai, K., Iguchi, A.,Yokoyama, Y., Temperature controlled culture experiments using primary polyps of coral Acropora digitifera: their calcification rate variations and skeletal Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, and Na/Ca ratios, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 484 (2), doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.03.016 (2017).
(12) Partin, J. W., Jenson, J. W., Banner, J. L., Quinn, T. M., Taylor, F. W., Sinclair, D., Hardt, B., Lander, M. A., Bell, T., Miklavic, M., Jocson, J. M. U., Taborosi, D., Relationship between modern rainfall variability, cave dripwater, and stalagmite geochemistry in Guam, USA, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 13, Q03013, doi:10.1029/2011GC003930 (2012).

Non Peer Review

(13) Bell. T., Jenson, J. W., Lander, M. A., Randall, R. H., Partin, J. W., Hardt, B., Banner, J. L., Coral and speleothem in situ monitoring and geochemical analysis, Guam Mariana Islands, USA, WERI Technical Report, No. 136 (2011).
(14) Bell. T., Endo, T., Jenson, J. W., Bell, R., Pneumatic Underwater for extracting coral cores. Guam Mariana Islands, USA, WERI Technical Report, No. 135 (2011).

Curriculum Development

(15) NASA Transform to Open Science (2023). available at https://nasa.github.io/Transform-to-Open-Science/take-os101/

  • American Geophysical Union
  • Future Leader of Ocean Worlds (NASA)
  • International Medical Geology Association
  • Japan Transporter Research Association (Medical Universities in Japan)

Honors/Awards

  • 2023 Letter of appreciation from NASA Headquarter, Washington D.C.
  • 2021 NASA JPL PSSS Class of 2021, California USA
  • 2021 Best presentation award at JSPS 6th Japan-US Science Forum sponsored by Consulate-General of Japan and Harvard University, Boston USA
  • 2020 Special presentation award at medical conference/Transporter Research Association, Japan
  • 2014 Student outstanding presentation award at Japan Geoscience Union, Japan
  • 2009 Outstanding lecturer at the Department of Defense Dependents School, Anderson Air Force base Guam, USA

External Funding

  • Japan Society of Promotion of Science (2018); Research Fellowship (150K USD)
, Ph.D.