Tyrslai Menyaee’ Williams-Carter, PhD
Assistant Professor of Research and Assistant Dean of Mentorship, Education, and Research
Bachelor's Degree: Chemistry, (cum laude) (5/11), Southern University (SU), Baton Rouge, LA
PhD: Organic Chemistry (8/17), Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU), Baton
Rouge, LA
Phone: (225) 578-4004
Email: twil161@lsu.edu
Website: https://lsu.edu/osi/
Biography
Tyrslai M. Williams-Carter is the Assistant Dean of Mentoring, Research, & Education
and an Assistant Professor of Research in the School of Education at Louisiana State
University. Formerly, she served as the Director of OSI Programs, where she led a
team dedicated to transforming the landscape of STEM education for students at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.
During her doctoral studies, Dr. Williams-Carter investigated the Design, Synthesis,
and Evaluation of BODIPY-Peptidic Conjugates for Biological Applications. Over the
past 15 years, she has conducted outreach and mentored K-12, undergraduate, and graduate
students. Because of her experience with research and her passion for outreach efforts
and supporting students over the years, Dr. Williams-Carter decided to focus her research
efforts on creating pathways for all students to achieve their academic goals in the
face of barriers. She is dedicated to contributing to the professional advancement
of students from high school to graduate levels in several capacities that strengthen
the pathway to terminal STEM degrees.
Her current research investigates the strategies and supports structures necessary
to aid students through critical junctures on their academic journey while cultivating
essential skills vital for success in the workforce. Dr. Williams-Carter is dedicated
to transforming the lens through which underserved students see higher education by
broadening participation and increasing matriculation of undergraduate and graduate
students in higher education. She has designed, implemented, and investigated several
STEM projects, particularly for groups historically underrepresented in STEM.
Selected Publications
Education Related
Williams, T.M., (featured). (2022) Five Tips for Success in the Chemistry Lab, inchemistry, a magazine of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Markle, R., DeGravelles, Williams, T.M., Williams, K., deGravelles, K.H., Bagayoko, D., Warner, I.M., (2022). Supporting Historically
Underrepresented Groups in STEM Higher Education: The Promise of Structured Mentoring
Networks. In Frontiers in Education, (p.218) Frontiers.
Williams, T.M., & Warner, I.M.,(featured). (2021) Women, students from underrepresented groups feel
less supported in chemistry graduate school in the US, Chemical & Engineeering News (C&EN), a magazine of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Crawford, M. B., Williams, T. M., Wilson-Kennedy, Z., Hooper-Bui, L., Stone, M., & Warner, I. M., (2018) Sustaining
STEM Initiatives: The Challenge of a Worthy Investment. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 17(3), es15.
Research Related
Williams, T. M., Kaufman, N. E., Zhou, Z., Singh, S. S., Jois, S. D., & Vicente, M. D. G. H. Click
conjugation of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorophores to EGFR-targeting linear
and cyclic peptides. Molecules, 2021, 26(3), 593.
Williams, T. M., Zhou, Z., Singh, S. S., Sibrian‐Vazquez, M., Jois, S. D., & Henriques Vicente, M.
D. G. Targeting EGFR Overexpression at the Surface of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Exploiting
Amidated BODIPY‐Peptide Conjugates. Photochemistry and photobiology, 2020, 96(3), 581-595.
da Silva Viana, R., de Mascena Costa, L.A., Leal, A.N., Williams, T.M., Luan, L., Zhang, G., Wang, M., Harmon, A.C., dos Anjos, J.V., Cueto, R. and Gomes
Filho, M.A., Surface modification strategy based on the conjugation of NaYF 4: 5%
Eu luminescent nanoprobe with organic aromatic compounds for application in bioimaging
assays, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2019, 21(1), 23.
Williams, T. M., Sable, R., Singh, S., Vicente, M. G. H., Jois, S. D., Peptide Ligands for Targeting
the Extracellular Domain of EGFR: Comparison Between Linear and Cyclic Peptides. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 2018, 91(2), 605-619.
Zhao, N., Williams, T. M., Zhou, Z., Fronczek, F. R., Sibrian-Vazquez, M., Jois, S. D., Vicente, M. G. H.,
Synthesis of BODIPY-Peptide Conjugates for Fluorescence Labeling of EGFR Overexpressing
Cells. Bioconjugate Chemistry 2017, 28 (5), 1566-1579.
Invited Book Chapter
Education Related
Williams, T. M., Crawford, M. B., Hooper-Bui, L. M., Givens, S., Lavender, H., Watt, S., & Warner,
I. M. (2019) LSU Office of Strategic Initiatives: A Great Equalizer for Broadening
Participation in STEM. In Broadening Participation in STEM: Effective Methods, Practices, and Programs, pp. 3-34. Emerald Publishing Limited.
Research Related
Williams, T. M., Sibrian-Vazquez, M., Vicente, M. G. H. (2016) Design and Synthesis of Photosensitizer-Peptide
Conjugates for PDT. In HANDBOOK OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY: Updates on Recent Applications of Porphyrin-Based
Compounds, pp 45-93.
Selected Presentations
Education and Diversity Related
T. M. Williams, Understanding the Law of Human Performance: A Vaccination Against Bad Behaviors
and their Effects and a Fuel for Self-Actualization, LS-PAC MODELS Conference, New
Orleans, LA, 2022.
T. M. Williams, “Structured Mentoring Networks for Supporting Underrepresented Groups in STEM”,
Mindsets for STEM Virtual Conference. Florida-Caribbean Louis Stokes Regional Center
of Excellence, 2022.
T. M. Williams, "Advocacy and Mentoring", weSTEM Conference 2022, Champaign, IL, 2022 (panel session).
T. M. Williams, “Uncovering the Threshold: Taking Social Intelligence to the Next Level for Increased
Student Success”, LSMRCE Conference, Indinapolis, Indiana, 2019. (podium)
T. M. Williams, D. Bagayoko, M. B. Crawford, T. Johnson, Z. S. Wilson-Kennedy, D. Zhang, I. M. Warner,
Louis Stokes Center for Promotion of Academic Careers through Motivational Opportunities
to Develop Emerging Leaders in STEM (LS-PAC MODELS), Washington, DC, 2019.
T. M. Williams and M. Graça H. Vicente, “Near Peer Mentoring: The Role of the STEM Graduate Student”,
SMTI-ASCN Workshop, New Orleans, LA, 2017.
Research Presentations
T.M. Williams, Ning Zhao, Martha Sibrian-Vasquez, Seetharama D. Satyanarayanajois, and M. Graça
H. Vicente, “Synthesis of BODIPY-Peptide Conjugates for Fluorescence Labeling of EGFR
Overexpressing Cells”, Colloquium Seminar, University of West Florida Chemistry Department,
Pensacola, Florida, 2017 (podium).
T. M. Williams, Timsy K. Uppal, Martha Sibrian-Vasquez, Seetharama D. Satyanarayanajois, and M. Graça
H. Vicente, “Contemporary Synthesis and Investigation of Peptidic-BODIPY Conjugates”,NOBCChE
National Conference, Raleigh, NC, 2017.
T. M. Williams, Timsy K. Uppal, Martha Sibrian-Vasquez, Seetharama D. Satyanarayanajois, and M. Graça
H. Vicente, “Innovative Synthesis and Investigation of Peptidic-BODIPY Conjugates”,
Professor Isiah M. Warner’s 70th Birthday Celebration: Education and Research Symposia,
Baton Rouge, LA, 2017.
T. M. Williams, Timsy K. Uppal, Martha Sibrian-Vasquez, Seetharama D. Satyanarayanajois, and M. Graça
H. Vicente, “Innovative Synthesis and Investigation of Peptidic-BODIPY Conjugates”,
Coates Symposium, Baton Rouge, LA, 2017.
Selected Grants and Funded Projects
Founder: National Science Foundation (NSF): Increasing Underrepresented Minorities in STEM:
The 49th NOBCChE Annual Conference National Organization for the Professional Advancement
of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
Grant amount: $97,6734
Role: PI
Time of Service: 9/1/22 – 8/31/23
Founder: National Science Foundation (NSF): LSU - 9: 2021 Cohort LA-BRIDGE
Grant amount: $1,075,000
Role: Co-PI
Time of Service: 09/01/22 - 08/31/2024
Founder: National Science Foundation (NSF): REU: Smart Polymer Composite Materials and Structures
Grant amount: $312,000
Role: Co-PI
Time of Service: 4/01/21 – 03/31/24
Founder: National Institutes of Health (NIH): Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC)
Grant amount: $2,700,000
Role: PI
Time of Service: 06/01/20 – 5/31/25
Founder: National Science Foundation (NSF): Louis Stokes Regional Center of Excellence: Center for Promotion of Academic Careers
through Motivational Opportunities to Develop Emerging Leaders in STEM (LS-PAC MODELS)
Grant amount: $2,500,000
Role: PI
Time of Service: 09/15/2018 – 08/31/24
Founder: Department of Education (DoE): Application for Grants under the Regular Upward Bound
Grant amount: $1,287,485
Role: Reviewer
Time of Service: 09/01/18–08/31/23
Founder: Department of Education (DoE): Application for Grants under the Regular Upward Bound
Grant amount: $1,287,485
Role: Reviewer
Time of Service: 09/01/18 – 08/31/23
Founder: National Science Foundation (NSF): REU: Smart Polymer Composite Materials and Structures
Grant amount: $288,000
Role: Co-PI
Time of Service: 8/24/17 – 12/31/21
Awards
2022 Presidential Award - National Organization for the Professional Advancement of
Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
2022 NOBCChE Tyrone Mitchell Mentor on the Map Award - National Organization for the
Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Graduate Fellowship, 2015-17
Advancing Science Award, National Organization of Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers,
2011-16
COACH (Assisting in the success and impact of women scientist and engineers) Travel
Award, National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and
Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) Conference, 2015
National Science Foundation LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Fellowship, Louisiana State
University, 2012-14
Editorships
Williams, T.M., Robinson, R.A.S., Wilson-Kennedy, Z.S., (editors), Frontiers in Education -
Exploring STEM Environments that Broaden Participation, 2023. Role: Lead Editor.