Growing up in San Diego, Chris opted to stay local and attended UCSD, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution), a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and a minor in Marine Science. During the research portion of his minor, Chris found the Sandin Lab as a group that shared common research interests. This led to the pursuit and completion of Master’s degree in Biology. His research focused on the growth effects on juvenile rockfish when presented with predator stimuli.

Chris previously worked as a staff researcher for the 100 Island Challenge, where he collected benthic and fish data from over 80 islands. He is currently managing a team of data analysts and works directly with a core Sandin Lab partner, OneReef, as a science advisor and program manager. He is also concurrently pursuing his MBA through the Rady School of Management.