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.