Sean Sharp

Sean Sharp is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Hood College, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses including Ecology and Evolution, Animal and Plant Physiology, Coastal Oceanography, and Principles of Ecology. His research centers on wetland plant community responses to disturbances such as saltwater intrusion, drought, and watershed development within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed ecosystem.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Ecology, University of Florida
• B.S. in Biology, University of North Carolina Asheville

Dr. Sharp's research program investigates the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum in wetlands, with emphasis on biogeochemical cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecosystem resilience. His work combines field experiments in tidal freshwater wetlands and model systems to understand how hydrology, nutrient loading, and invasive species alter wetland functions. Current projects examine saltwater intrusion impacts on wild rice, watershed development effects on pollutant uptake, and eutrophication influences on benthic algae communities.

Analysis of Dr. Sharp's recent publications (2020-2024) reveals a dominant focus on methane dynamics in freshwater wetlands, particularly how vegetation patch types and hydrologic conditions modulate emissions. His research increasingly integrates spatial heterogeneity concepts with biogeochemical processes, while maintaining strong connections to coastal ecosystem vulnerability from salt marsh grazers to invasive species impacts across multiple spatial scales.

Dr. Sharp actively mentors graduate students Meghan Junis (nutrient uptake in urban wetlands) and Bella Videtti (greenhouse gas exchange in urban ecology), along with undergraduate August Mullican (benthic algae community structure in the Chesapeake Bay). These projects provide hands-on research experience in environmental monitoring and ecological analysis.

As principal investigator of his research lab, Dr. Sharp leads investigations into wetland disturbance responses using field and greenhouse methodologies. His lab focuses on practical applications for wetland conservation in the face of climate change, with particular attention to Chesapeake Bay watershed dynamics and restoration potential.

In his personal time, Dr. Sharp is an avid birder, kayaker on the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers, and baseball enthusiast pursuing visits to all 30 Major League stadiums.