Christopher is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology and graduate research assistant in the Environmental Science and Policy Program (ESPP) at Michigan State University . He teaches courses on the environment and society, science and technology studies, sociology of work, industrial sociology, and complex organizations. His academic advisor and mentor is Dr. Thomas Dietz, Professor of Sociology and Crop and Soil Science and the director of ESPP.

Christopher has a B.S. in geography from California Polytechnic State University at Pomona, specializing in geographic information science and environmental management, and he completed graduate work at Oregon State University in geosciences and resource management prior to transferring to MSU. While at MSU, Christopher studied anthropology and geography before coming to the field of environmental sociology. During his time at MSU, Christopher also worked as a research assistant in the Center for Global Change and Earth Observation (formerly BSRSI) studying tropical forests in Brazil and Southeast Asia . Currently, his dissertation is focused on U.S. energy policy, specifically the use of reformulated gasoline and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and its effect on local environmental conditions throughout the country. His work also explores the consequences of bilateral trade agreements on federal, state, and local environmental policymaking. Dr. Dietz and Christopher recently were awarded a National Science Foundation grant (Science and Society program) to fund Christopher's research.

In addition to his work in the U.S., Christopher has worked on research projects in Mexico and Central America, as well as Brazil , primarily focusing on environmental management and policy concerning tropical forested landscapes.