Dr. Gisriel studies sustainability in his lab by examining photosynthesis, the process that organisms use to produce chemical energy in nature. He also engineers other organisms in the lab to perform photosynthesis in the same way. This research is useful because it explores how certain organisms produce chemical energy, which could lead to more accessible energy sources for humanity. The benefits of this research range from helping organisms survive by improving the efficiency of their photosynthesis to discovering new ways to make energy more accessible for humans.