Physical Danger
Very few people connect the ideas of "danger" and "being a professor," despite having seen Indiana Jones. And for some scholastic pursuits, e.g. mathematics, this is fundamentally true. Herpetologists, however, tend to have a slightly scrappier reputation.
A lot of the real-world need for these snake wizards involves toxin and venom...not exactly the stuff of a well-balanced breakfast. And when you're not off forcing cobras to bite latex to squeeze out their poison juice, you might find yourself in a hazardous environment fighting off heat stroke or infection.
Of course, you're super smart, and you've made sure to prepare for all aforementioned contingencies, making your actual risk of accidentally slurping down noxious salamander emissions rest somewhere between low and non-existent. Just remember that no amount of training can prepare you to deal with the dreaded Hypnotoad, so make sure you nev—ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD.