Dr. Shawn T. Dash is an Assistant Biologist at within the Department of Biology at Hampton University. He is noted for the passion he brings to the classroom exciting students about the natural world and involving them in his research. Dr. Dash teaches a variety of courses including introductory courses, zoology, research design, as well as specialty courses on medical entomology, toxic and venomous animals, conservation biology as well as a field-based biodiversity class focused on the greater Chesapeake Bay watershed. Dr. Dash is deeply invested in documenting and understanding regional biodiversity. He has focused on a number of taxa including recently focusing on microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria.