Christopher Gisriel

My path to biochemistry began after high school when I joined the U.S. Army and served a tour of duty in Afghanistan. After my time in the military, I attended community college, where I discovered my passion for chemistry and biology. This interest led me to transfer to Arizona State University (ASU), where I completed my B.S. in biochemistry. During my time at ASU, I had the opportunity to work in a research laboratory, and that experience solidified my decision to pursue a career in scientific research.

I went on to earn my Ph.D. in biochemistry, where my research focused on structural biology and photosynthetic protein complexes. A major part of my graduate work involved solving the first molecular structure of a Type I anoxygenic reaction center, which gave crucial insights into the evolution of photosynthesis. My academic achievements were recognized when I was named a 2017 CLAS Leader and Outstanding Graduate by ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

I continued to build my expertise through postdoctoral positions at ASU and Yale University. At ASU’s Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, I worked on X-ray Free Electron Laser crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. At Yale, I studied far-red light photoacclimation and water oxidation in photosystem II.

In Fall 2024, I opened my independent lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Biochemistry. My group's research focuses on understanding and engineering photosynthetic protein complexes to improve photosynthetic efficiency and contribute to global carbon sequestration efforts.

February 2025