• B.A. - University of Iowa, 1964

• M.S. - University of Iowa, 1966

• Ph.D. - University of Iowa, 1970

• Post doctoral research - Brandeis University 1969-72
  Laboratory of Prof. Martin Gibbs. Studying the comparative enzymology of triose phosphate dehydrogenase from peas.

Research Specialities

Study of the pentose phosphate pathway in blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), an important metabolic pathway in these organisms because of their limited glycolysis and the incomplete tricarboxylic acid cycle. The probable use of this cycle as an energy source to both a cyanide-insensitive respiratory system and to nitrogen fixation.

Study of the infection of Anacystis nidulans (cyanobacterium) by a cyanophage AS-1. This infection seriously modifies the synthesis of DNA in this "blue green algae" and results in the production of a novel and previously unknown species of DNA.

Ecology of plants in an urban environment. Studying the types of plants found in and around Brooklyn, New York.

Highlights of current teaching projects:

• Organismic Biology: Plants: These courses use an extensive and growing website devoted to the kinds of trees and other plants found around Brooklyn College.
• Intensive writing: all students in the botany laboratory course must write a series of descriptions and reports about the plants they meet and study. These are complied into a "book" of reports that is an important component of the course and the grade.

A few highlights from publications in major journals:

• K.H. Blashka, L. Hwang-Lee, G. Cohn, J. Blamire and R.E. McGowan. Altered Metabolite Incorporation into the Cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans as a Result of Cyanophage AS-1 Infection. Microbios 34 141-152 (1982)
• L. Hwang-Lee, K.H. Blashka, J. Blamire, and R.E. McGowan. DNA Metabolism during Infection of Anacystis nidulans by Cyanophage AS-1: 1. Identification of a Unique Species of DNA. Microbios 35 49-62 (1982)
• L. Hwang-Lee, K.H. Blashka, R.E. McGowan and J. Blamire. DNA Metabolism during Infection of Anacystis nidulans by Cyanophage AS-1: 2. Analysis of DNA Synthesis Patterns and Discrimination of Precursor Utilization. Microbios 35 111-118 (1982)
• K.H. Blashka, L. Hwang-Lee, R.E. McGowan and J. Blamire. DNA Metabolism during Infection of Anacystis nidulans by Cyanophage AS-1: 3. Alternative precursors and host/phage systems for PIL-DNA. Microbios 36 93-99 (1983)
• L. Hwang-Lee, G. Cohn, K.H. Blashka, J. Blamire and R.E. McGowan. DNA Metabolism during Infection of Anacystis nidulans by Cyanophage AS-1: 4. Studies on the Source of PIL-DNA. Microbios 36 101-111 (1983)
• L. Hwang-Lee, G. Cohn, K.H. Blashka, R.E. McGowan. and J. Blamire DNA Metabolism during Infection of Anacystis nidulans by Cyanophage AS-1: 5. Biophysical characterization of PIL-DNA. Microbios 36 191-208 (1983)
• L. Hwang-Lee, G. Cohn, J. Blamire and R.E. McGowan. DNA Metabolism during Infection of Anacystis nidulans by Cyanophage AS-1: 6. Effect of Hydroxyurea and Naladixic Acid on the Development of Cyanophage AS-1. Microbios 43 245-259 (1985)
• L. Hwang-Lee, G. Cohn, L.Cosowsky, R.E. McGowan and J. Blamire . DNA Metabolism during Infection of Anacystis nidulans by Cyanophage AS-1: 7. UV-Induced Alterations of the AS-1/ A. nidulans Lytic Cycle. Microbios 43 277-295 (1985)