Charlie Sellers

Charlie is a materials scientist with over 20 years of experience in advanced materials development, spanning metals, ceramics, and appropriate technologies for emerging economies. He spent a decade at a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory and over 10 years in industry, including two years in China managing rare earth magnet manufacturing operations. His expertise lies in troubleshooting complex challenges and bringing innovative products to market in both high-tech and resource-constrained settings.

When not working with exotic elements from the periodic table, Charlie focuses on the development and deployment of appropriate technologies, including alternative energy solutions, improved cooking appliances, clean water systems, and sanitation. A proponent of human-centered design, he prioritizes using local skills and readily available resources to solve challenges in emerging economies.

Charlie also mentors startup companies, leveraging his business experience to support social entrepreneurs in creating impactful products. He holds a BS in Physics from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Northwestern University.

Since Catapult Design’s inception from the San Francisco chapter of Engineers Without Borders, Charlie has contributed his expertise in test development and data analysis, quality assurance, manufacturing in limited-resource settings, and field testing for new products.