Dr. Kostecki’s professional career has focused on research, education and training in environmental contamination with an emphasis on human and ecological risk assessment and risk management. His work includes soil ingestion estimates for children and adults; establishment of scientifically sound cleanup levels for soil; bioavailability of soil contaminants; fish as toxicological models for contamination assessment; and assessment and management of petroleum contaminated soils. Dr. Kostecki has developed and conducted over 45 conferences, workshops and courses both nationally and internationally, and has made presentations at over 100 national and international meetings. Since 1985, his conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water has attracted over 10,000 environmental professionals from over 40 countries. Dr. Kostecki has published over 100 articles and reports and co-edited/co-authored 25 books.
Dr. Kostecki co-created the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences (AEHS), formerly the Association for the Environmental Health of Soils, in 1989 and served as Executive Director. He help found Amherst Scientific Publishers and co-created seven peer-reviewed journals: Journal of Soil and Sediment Contamination (1990); Human and Ecological Risk Assessment (1994); Journal of Phytoremediation (1998); Journal of Environmental Forensics (1999); Journal of Children’s Health (2003); Non-Linearity Journal (2003); and Journal of Medical Risks (2004). In addition, Dr. Kostecki co-created the International Society for Environmental Forensics in 2002. Since September, 2003, Dr. Kostecki has served as Vice Provost for Research and Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.