Hundreds of venomous snakes. King Cobras. Spitting cobras. Mambas. Gaboon vipers. African vipers. South American vipers. North American vipers. Every type of snake imaginable. That’s what fascinated Steve Mackessy, Ph.D., from an early age, thanks to his part-time job in high school — working at a reptile supply company. He’s been enthralled with these venomous creatures ever since. Now, he is a professor of Biology in UNC’s College of Natural and Health Sciences.