Tova Williams
Bio
Dr. Tova N. Williams is the principal investigator of The Sustainable Dye Chemistry Laboratory. Ever since she took her first chemistry course, she fell in love with the science. When she found out as an undergraduate student that she could pair her love for chemistry with her love for color, she then fell in love with the field of dye/color chemistry, especially its applications and the need to improve the environmental impact of colorants and coloration processes. Thus, she is dedicated to advancing the field in this respect. In addition, Dr. Williams has a passion for education and teaching thanks to her hardworking parents, David and Calamity (Jean) Williams, who instilled in her and her older sisters at an early age the importance of pursuing a higher education, and her dedicated teachers, including her high school chemistry teacher, Carolyn Davila.
Dr. Williams is a double alumna of NC State University (Wilson College of Textiles), earning her Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science (Chemistry minor) in 2018 and her B.S. in Polymer and Color Chemistry in 2014. Her doctoral research investigated approaches to the design of sustainable permanent hair dyes and was conducted under the direction of Dr. Harold S. Freeman. Dr. Williams is a 2015 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and visionary and co-developer of the first publicly available hair dye substance chemical database (300+ compounds). In addition to her academic research experience, she has held various roles in the chemicals industry including research and sales and has worked at Tokyo Chemical Industry, Cotton Incorporated, and American & Efird. As part of her doctoral studies she was a visiting researcher at Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Materials Science division.
Beyond the bench, Dr. Williams is an advocate for mentoring underrepresented minority groups and engaging in STEM outreach. She enjoys a myriad of activities including DIY-projects, interior designing, outdoor biking, cooking, and traveling.
Education
Postdoctoral Research Scholar Textile Protection and Comfort Center NC State 2019
Ph.D. Fiber and Polymer Science (Chemistry Minor) NC State 2018
B.S. Polymer and Color Chemistry NC State 2014
Area(s) of Expertise
Dyeing and finishing
Textile chemistry
Hair dyeing
Environmental/green chemistry
Cheminformatics
Publications
- Evaluation of the Toxicological and Color Properties of Anionic Hydrophobic Monoazo Dyes for Sustainable Human Hair Coloration , ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING (2022)
- Mad about madder , NATURE CHEMISTRY (2022)
- In situ Chelation of Monoazo Dyes in Human Hair Keratin Fibers Using Environmentally Benign Metal Ions , ACS Applied Bio Materials (2021)
- Metal-complexed monoazo dyes as sustainable permanent hair dye alternatives-Toxicological and durability properties , DYES AND PIGMENTS (2021)
- Coloration, Hair , Encyclopedia of Color Science and Technology (2020)
- Melanin , Encyclopedia of Color Science and Technology (2020)
- Analysis of keratin films as screening tools for predicting the efficacy of potential hair dyes , COLORATION TECHNOLOGY (2019)
- Designing the next generation of hair dyes using cheminformatics , American Chemical Society National Meeting & Expo (2019)
- Development of a Colorimetric Sensor for the Detection of Methyl Salicylate during Man-In-Simulant Test , 133rd NC Local Section Meeting of the American Chemical Society (2019)
- Chemistry to Dye For: Hair Dyes— Designing the next generation of hair dyes using cheminformatics , (2018)
Grants
This project pertains to the characterization of colorants isolated from fungi and other plant media as potential alternatives to environmentally unfriendly synthetic dyes. Part 1 of our study seeks to verify that the resulting biocolourants are non-ecotoxic and non-mutagenic. Although from a natural origin, the biocolourants are new compounds that need to be examined for potential adverse effects on human health and aquatic biota. Part 2 seeks to establish viable methods for the application and evaluation of biocolourants on textile substrates. Specifically, the focus this aspect of our work involves dyeing and printing of textiles and determination of their fastness properties. Non-traditional applications (e.g. paints, coatings, and solar cells) for the new biocolourants will also be pursued.
Cotton is nature���s gift to the textile industry, with excellent physical properties, biological origins, and the ability to biodegrade. Using immersive, fun, thought-provoking hands-on laboratory experiences, inspired by on-going research in the Wilson College of Textiles on cotton biodegradability, we will develop a set of learning modules to direct the educational power of student interest in textile and apparel sustainability towards curiosity about cotton fibers and knowledge-building that can help them as young professionals to shape the sustainable future that is so important to us all, and to young people especially. These modules will be an innovative new offering, designed to become incorporated in core and elective courses in the undergraduate-level Polymer and Color Chemistry and graduate-level Textile Chemistry curricula. CottonWorks��� resources and information will be closely integrated into the project-based modules. Students will work in teams to select a variety of high cotton content fabrics with various dyes, finishes and embellishments, and will subject these to accelerated degradation using an Enzymatic Fiber Separation process developed at Wilson College. They will compare results, debate potential reasons for the outcomes, and consider creative uses for degraded cotton. After completing the modules, students will have a deeper appreciation for how cotton degrades, why this is an important attribute, how colorants and finishes can interfere, and they will gain inspiration for strategies to overcome these obstacles. At least 60 students will be directly involved during the grant period, with the goal of continuing to involve at least that many annually thereafter.
This project pertains to the characterization of colorants isolated from fungi and other plant media as potential alternatives to environmentally unfriendly synthetic dyes. Part 1 of our study seeks to verify that the resulting biocolourants are non-ecotoxic and non-mutagenic. Although from a natural origin, the biocolourants are new compounds that need to be examined for potential adverse effects on human health and aquatic biota. Part 2 seeks to establish viable methods for the application and evaluation of biocolourants on textile substrates. Specifically, the focus this aspect of our work involves dyeing and printing of textiles and determination of their fastness properties. Non-traditional applications (e.g. paints, coatings, and solar cells) for the new biocolourants will also be pursued.