Dilara Tas Williams

Dilara Tas Williams is a Faculty Research Assistant at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science – Horn Point Laboratory, where she contributes to the SequestStar project with a focus on precipitated calcium carbonate optimization using brine-based systems. Her work supports innovative carbon sequestration efforts and circular-use approaches that reflect her long-standing commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency.

Dilara holds a B.Sc. in Food Engineering and conducted academic research in Istanbul, Türkiye, working on food chemistry, in-vitro bioaccessibility, phenolic extraction, and the valorization of agricultural by-products. Her projects often centered on transforming underused plant materials—such as loquat, artichoke leaves, and broccoli leaves—into functional ingredients rich in bioactive compounds. These experiences shaped her interest in reducing waste, improving environmental outcomes, and bridging food science with environmental chemistry.

At Horn Point Laboratory, she enjoys applying her analytical chemistry background to environmental research, learning new instrumentation, and contributing to interdisciplinary work that blends chemistry, sustainability, and innovation. Outside the lab, she loves baking pastries, playing pickleball, spending time with their dog, swimming, and exploring Maryland’s Eastern Shore with her husband.