She deferred applying to college until she had started her own family, but, seven years later, found herself a single mother in need of more education to support her own children.

[2] Her doctoral research involved identifying stable phases of silicon nitride systems, with a focus on improving the mechanical properties at high temperature.

[3] She spent a year at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research – with her two children – where she worked with Manfred Ruehle on electron microscopy.

[6] Her research has involved investigations into the structure-property relations of ceramic materials as well as studies into how the surface morphology impacts chemical reactions.

[5][6][7] In 2004 Bonnell founded the University of Pennsylvania Nano/Bio Interface Center (NBIC), which supports collaboration between researchers working at the intersection of biology, chemistry and technology.