Maria Longas completed her PhD at New York University in 1978, and did her postdoctoral training at Columbia University School of Medicine with Dr. Karl Mayer. She has an MA in Organic Chemistry from New York University (1973) and a BA in Chemistry from Hunter College (1971). She is a full Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, IN. She has more than 24 papers published in reputable journals, and served as a reviewer for several journals.