Our Team

John C. Lin is the co-founder and CEO of Tau Carbon Inc. John has a B.A. in Economics (Drew University, 2002), a J.D. (University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2006), and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering (CCNY, 2015 and Stanford University, 2019). John completed a federal judicial clerkship after finishing law school and also practiced law as a commercial litigator before deciding to switch to a climate-related career in 2011. As part of this career switch, John went back to college to study chemical engineering and then spent 4 years in the Chemical Engineering PhD program at Stanford, where his research focused on electrochemical CO2 reduction, a.k.a. “artificial photosynthesis.” After 4 years of working on artificial photosynthesis, John concluded that natural photosynthesis is a better technology for capturing and converting CO2 and co-founded Tau Carbon to develop technologies that will maximize the amount of carbon that is stored in terrestrial biomass.

John currently lives in San Francisco, CA.

Amber Janda is co-founder and CTO of Tau Carbon. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering (University of California-Berkeley, 2015). Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Amber worked as a process research engineer at Dow Chemical. During her time at Dow, Amber performed lab scale experimentation, process optimization, and specified raw materials and major equipment for the manufacture of polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foams used to reduce energy consumption in the building sector. Amber returned to graduate school to continue her work reducing energy consumption by focusing her thesis research on catalysts, materials that increase the efficiency and yield of chemical processes. Amber subsequently completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University, where she researched catalysts for the thermochemical conversion of CO2 to commodity chemicals.

Amber lives with her husband and daughter in Cupertino, CA.

Justin Kreindler is co-founder and COO of Tau Carbon. He has 16 years of professional experience in the fields of employment equity and political organizing, as well as many years of experience managing property. In addition to his work Director of Programs and Partnership for Public Allies Chicago, Justin helped run organizing projects for AFL-CIO Lawyers Committee, the New Voters Project, MoveOn and several political campaigns. In 2019, Justin ran for Alderman of the 46th Ward of Chicago, with a focus on investment in schools, creating more affordability in the housing market, and achieving meaningful police reform. He has served on boards with Landmarks Illinois, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action Future of Choice, and Chicago Volunteer Doulas' board of directors.

Justin lives with his wife and two children in Chicago. He is also an accomplished photographer and the resident chef at home.