Paul is BDL’s Executive Director and President.  Prior to this, Paul served as Research and Testing Manager for several years.  Before joining BDL in 2012, he worked for Weyerhaeuser Company in a variety of positions, including R&D, Power Plant Manager, and Project and Process Engineering roles. Paul’s expertises include energy systems, power generation, wood drying, pelletization, and gasification technologies. Paul holds an MS in mechanical engineering and thoroughly enjoys cycling.

Trista brings a wide variety of work experience to the position of administration manager, including accounting for small businesses, grant writing for nonprofits, and teaching college-level writing.  She holds her BA from The Evergreen State College and an MFA in creative writing from Arizona State University. Trista has been raising her children on Vashon for the past six years and is happy to apply her skills to the mission of the Burn Design Lab.  By night, Trista is a professional playwright, and can also be found curating the reading series for the Vashon Repertory Theater. 

Katie McRoberts received her B.A. in International Relations from James Madison University and her M.A. in Comparative Religion from the University of Washington. She has worked for nonprofits in the Seattle area and abroad. Katie is excited to be a part of the BDL team and have the opportunity to work at the intersection of climate, health, and economic opportunity. She enjoys hiking, tennis, and spending time with her husband and son in her free time. 

Aaron Nyarkotey is a Green economy professional. He is passionate about development, promotion, and dissemination of low-carbon technologies. He aspires to become a cookstoves expert. Aaron has experience and expertise in project management, renewable energy enterprises development, and curating partnerships. He has previously worked with SNV Netherlands Development Organization as an Energy Advisor. Aaron made contact with Burn Design Lab during his time at SNV. After his time at SNV, he embarked on a knowledge brokerage visit to Burn Design Lab; during which time he developed interest in their work and impact. He has, subsequently, joined the BDL team as Project Manager & Business Development Associate. Aaron is an author, podcaster, and song writer and composer.

Sumeet Samra is the new Laboratory Researcher at Burn Design Lab. From Bellingham, WA, Sumeet received her B.S in Biomedical Science from the University of Washington Tacoma. At BDL, Sumeet manages the lab and tests a variety of projects, including fuel design and Round Bottom Pot project. In her free time, Sumeet enjoys puzzles, reading and embroidery!

Gary is a project engineer at Burn Design Lab. He believes his experience in the industrial heat transfer, commercial heating, and energy conservation fields will help him to contribute to the mission of developing cookstoves that make their users’ lives better. Outside of work, he likes to be outside on his mountain bike, hiking, skiing, or sailing. He also enjoys reading, baking, and a glass of wine with friends.

Jeremy Su is a project manager and engineer at Burn Design Lab. He hopes to use his engineering background to make a positive impact on the environment and the livelihoods of different communities he works with. Outside of work, Jeremy is passionate about cooking and baking, health and fitness, service, wood-working, and hiking/backpacking/camping/climbing. As a transplant from the East Coast, he looks forward to exploring the trails, lakes, and mountains in the PNW and becoming a part of the community on Vashon Island.

Cooper acquired his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with an innovation minor from the University of Portland. At BDL, he is designing the next generation of cookstoves for round-bottomed pots, which are popular in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and many other West African countries. He grew up in north-central Washington, where he developed an affinity for camping, hiking, skiing, and virtually any other outdoor activity. Cooper aims to incorporate his interests in sustainability and human-centered design into his work with clean-burning cookstoves.

Abdul-Fatawu Salifu holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Social Work from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana. He is from Fufulso in the Central Gonja District (Savanna Region), Ghana. Prior to working with Burn Design Lab, Abdul worked with Burro-USAID/NGR as an interpreter, Fidelity Bank as a Digital Sales Executive, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science Technology and Research(Eawag) as a field officer, Volunteer for Zurak Cancer foundation, and Youth Development Network as a Youth Mobilizer.