Current instructor

David Hershey

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 3.38/5 from 8 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

470 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
Professor Hershey is such a nice guy. You will fall in love with his lecture even though you don't know genetics or don't like genetics. The content is a little bit complicated, but you don't need to be smart to figure it all out. I guess AI is allowed except for the final exam, but it is not really helpful since it can't really analyze the graph.
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470 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 4/5
Dr. Hershey is a really nice guy. His class is pretty difficult. The grades are determined by 9 open-note quizzes, 9 open-note timed "a**essments" which count a bit more, and 1 open-note final. But don't let the "open note" fool you; the questions often require you to infer from the slides. I don't know how people get As.
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470 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
I loved this class, we had weekly open note quizzes instead of having to study for exams. David was also super funny and very willing to help you if your are confused. Highly recommend this class!!!
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470 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
The course is structured to have a quiz per modules than 3 or 4 big exams. Quiz questions match the types of questions we practice in class. Ask questions because he will help you solve the problems, he wants you to succeed. He is just blunt and has dry humor which is what some students don't like, but he is the best professor I've ever had at UW.
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470 · course not matched
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
He just isn't someone who should be teaching. He constantly reminds students that he believes they are all there to get an A and don't actually care about his class, which I personally find demoralizing. When asked questions about problem sets (weekly), he sighs and asks if you'd "just like the answe,r" for what he calls everything. . "fake points"
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470 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
Unpopular opinion, but I think David is a great professor. It did take me a few weeks to get used to his teaching style, but I ultimately loved how the course was structured. Instead of 2-3 monolithic exams that we'd cram for, he actually wanted us to understand the material with 2-week units. Go to office hours, get all your points on problem sets
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with David Hershey

MICROBIO 299

Independent Study

1–3 credits

Independent Study in Microbiology involves research work under direct faculty guidance, where students arrange specific projects and credits with their supervisor.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Michael ThomasDaniel Amador-Noguez+23 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2023–Fall 2025 · limited sample
MICROBIO 470

Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines

3 credits

Examines modern microbial genetics and molecular processes, emphasizing eubacterial and eukaryotic microbes to elucidate cellular function and discussing experimental applications in biotechnology, bioremediation, and medicine.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.44 GPA, 53.8% A/AB (n=39 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.26 GPA, 47.2% A/AB (n=36 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.26 GPA, 44.1% A/AB (n=34 letter grades).

David Hershey

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026
MICROBIO 699

Special Problems

1–4 credits

Individual advanced work in Microbiology under faculty guidance, involving identifying research problems, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and communicating results.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=2 letter grades).

Michael ThomasPaul Friesen+25 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026 · limited sample
MICROBIO 990

Research

1–9 credits

Graduate research course involving full lab and literature review of a microbiology problem, leading to thesis and publication preparation.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Michael ThomasPaul Friesen+34 more

No recorded grade history

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027MICROBIO 299Independent Study
Spring 2027MICROBIO 470Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines
Spring 2027MICROBIO 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027MICROBIO 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2027MICROBIO 691Senior Thesis
Spring 2027MICROBIO 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2027MICROBIO 699Special Problems
Spring 2027MICROBIO 899Independent Study
Spring 2027MICROBIO 990Research
Fall 2026MICROBIO 299Independent Study
Fall 2026MICROBIO 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026MICROBIO 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2026MICROBIO 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2026MICROBIO 692Senior Thesis
Fall 2026MICROBIO 699Special Problems
Fall 2026MICROBIO 899Independent Study
Fall 2026MICROBIO 990Research

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
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