Chris Gunter earned her Ph.D. in human genetics at Emory University in 1998, studying fragile X syndrome and mechanisms of dynamic mutation. She then moved to Case Western Reserve University and completed both postdoctoral work on X chromosome inactivation and an editorial fellowship at the journal Human Molecular Genetics. From 2002 to 2008, Gunter served as a senior editor for the journal Nature, handling the areas of genetics, genomics, and gene therapy.

Gunter then joined the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology as the Director of Research Affairs. She then served at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University, where she worked with researchers and the public to publish and translate scientific findings. Gunter is a frequent lecturer on the editorial process for publishing in leading academic journals, the changing landscape of publication and the importance of science communication.