Konrad Kulacki, Ph.D. - Managing Scientist - Ecological and Biological Sciences

Academic Credentials

Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 2009
B.S., Environmental Science and Management, Michigan State University, 2002

Licenses & Certifications

40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Certification (HAZWOPER)

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association – Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
- Associate Member
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry—SETAC
- National and Regional North Atlantic Chapter

Dr. Konrad Kulacki has a broad, multidisciplinary background in aquatic ecology, chemistry, ecotoxicology, and risk assessment, with nearly two decades of experience bringing together expert teams to manage the ecological risks of anthropogenic stressors, including wastewater discharges, legacy chemicals, and emerging contaminants.

Dr. Kulacki balances his work between reactive matters and litigation support, including legacy contaminant issues, Clean Water Act (CWA), NPDES permitting, Natural Resource Damages (NRD), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and toxic tort, and proactive projects, including regulatory compliance and understanding the changing scientific, legislative, and litigation landscape of emerging contaminants (e.g., plastics in the environment). He has extensive experience with the risks associated with numerous environmental pollutants, including biological, chemical, and physical stressors, and with the various methods available to evaluate their effects.

Prior to joining Ģ��tv, Dr. Kulacki's graduate and post-doctoral research focused on the effects of industrial solvents and engineered nanoparticles on freshwater primary producers and consumers. He has worked effectively on multidisciplinary teams that included chemical engineers, mathematical modelers, ecologists, microbiologists, and watershed planners.

Supported expert report preparation and testimony regarding the hazards of and exposure to 6PPD and 6PPD-Q for salmonids in the Pacific Northwest.
Supported expert report preparation and testimony regarding conversion of a pulp and paper mill and associated wastewater treatment failures.
Supported clients in water rights dispute by developing rebuttal opinions regarding the influence of eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms on water quality and conditions for resident endangered fish taxa.
Analyzed historical production data at a fish hatchery impacted by wildfires to rebut Plaintiff claims of ongoing and projected losses of production.
Investigated effluent compliance issues associated with several pulp and paper mills, preparation of Toxicity Reduction Evaluation plans, and determination of actions for achieving long-term NPDES permit compliance.
In support of international arbitration, evaluated whether an environmental impact assessment performed for a proposed mining facility met the requirements of national and international guidelines.
Supported experts in their review of fate, transport, and effects of an airborne release of materials from an oil refinery, including coordination of field sampling and laboratory analysis of drinking water and soil samples.
Supported expert report preparation and regulatory determinations of organic chemical contamination resulting from a train derailment and potential risk to agricultural crops.
Designed a sampling protocol to determine concentrations of PFAS in land-applied biosolids and their associated bioavailability in agricultural soils.
Supported a litigation matter in which conditions in a correctional facility were alleged to be unconstitutional. Reviewed facility pest management protocols and associated reports, and drafted expert opinion re: sufficiency of pest management program.
Designed and oversaw project that developed rankings for the effects of seven different chemical, biological, and physical stressors on stream structure and function, using 100+ laboratory mesocosms.

Investigated the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (n TiO2) to freshwater phytoplankton. Examined algal physiology, competition with bacteria, and interactions with UV light and the effects of n-TiO2 on algal chlorophyll content.

Studied fate and effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in artificial stream mesocosms, and the relationships between concentrations of n-TiO2 in algal biofilms, algal biomass, and species diversity.

In collaboration with other scientists, reviewed the effects of room-temperature ionic liquids on aquatic organisms and published an invited paper on the topic.

Used standard acute toxicity tests to determine the toxicity of several room-temperature ionic liquids to freshwater algae, and examined the role of cell wall structure in determining toxicity.
Provided technical support to natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Provided analysis of fisheries catch data to identify causal linkages between upstream water usage changes and downstream effects for a litigation matter before SCOTUS.

Supported a net environmental benefits analysis (NEBA) for the closure of coal-fired power plants by evaluating human health risk assessments for coal ash basins at six sites.

For a pharmaceutical company, reviewed the life history of dung fauna invertebrate communities in support of registration of cattle antiparasitic treatments.

Provided statistical support in generating point estimates of lethal and sublethal effects for laboratory toxicity tests.

Performed research on historical baseline conditions at several coastal areas to which to compare current alleged injuries in support of litigation.

Managed reporting for a pilot study testing the efficacy of activated carbon sediment amendments in field and laboratory trials at reducing bioavailability of mercury and PCBs. Reviewed historic site operation materials for potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to assist in development of an allocation model for costs associated with remediation of contaminated river sediments.

Reviewed historic site operations, waste handling, and environmental data for clients in light of retrospective state-of-industry-knowledge to recover insurance-covered remediation costs.

Performed a literature review on the ability of microplastics in the environment to serve as vectors for hydrophobic organic contaminants. Review was submitted and accepted for publication.

Performed a screening level ecological risk assessment (SLERA) for an industrial facility discharging formaldehyde in anticipation of government changes to wastewater effluent restrictions.

Evaluated trends in water quality over time at multiple cities across the USA to support a causal analysis of air emissions on the environment.

Performed a site assessment of an aquaculture facility in support of an environmental assessment for AquAdvantage® salmon for AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Performed a literature review on the effects of refined coal-tar pavement sealants on aquatic environments.

Collected sediment cores in a tidal wetland as part of a study to determine long-term efficacy of activated carbon sediment amendments.

Estimated ecological risk to wildlife that use wetlands near a former hospital that had soils with elevated metals.

Critically evaluated an expert report on aquatic bioassay results in support of litigation. Contributed to preparation of a rebuttal report, in which we showed that the opposing expert's report was critically flawed in numerous ways.

Contributing author on revision of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidance Document on Aqueous-Phase Aquatic Toxicity Testing of Difficult Test Chemicals.

Prepared white paper on macroplastics in the environment, which covered sources, characterization, fate and transport, human and ecological effects, and identified key knowledge gaps.

Project manager and senior ecotoxicologist for a large, multi-facility evaluation of effluent toxicity including chemistry, process wastewater evaluation and toxicology assessment.
Menzie CA, Horr T, Kashuba R, Kierski MW, Kulacki KJ, McArdle ME, Ryan SR, Taylor AA. . In Paustenbach DJ, Feinberg K, Editors. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and Practice, Third Edition. Wiley 2024.
Steele AN, Kulacki KJ, Fleming ML, Goodfellow Jr. WL. Whole effluent toxicity assessments and experimental considerations for evaluating coagulation agents and polymers for wastewater treatment of coal combustion. Proceedings of the World of Coal Ash Conference, May 16-19, 2022. 16pp.
Gard NW, Edwards MR, Kulacki KJ, Ginn TC. . Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2021; 40(8):2085 — 2097.
Driscoll SK, Kulacki KJ, Marzooghi S. . Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 2020; 16:17 — 27.
Costello DM, Kulacki KJ, McCarthy ME, Tiegs SD, Cardinale BJ. . PLoS ONE 2018; 13(9):e0204510.
Ziccardi LA, Edgington K, Hentz K, Kulacki KJ, Driscoll SK. . Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2016; 35:1667 — 1676.
Kulacki KJ, Cardinale BJ. . PLoS-ONE 2012; 7(10):e47130.
Kulacki KJ, Cardinale BJ, Bier RA, Dickson HM. . Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2012; 31(10):2414 — 2422.
Kulacki KJ, Chaloner DT, Larson JH, Costello DM, Evans-White MA, Docherty KM, Bernot RJ, Brueseke MA, Kulpa CF, Lamberti GA. . Current Organic Chemistry 2011; 15(12):1918 — 1927.
Sena DW, Kulacki KJ, Chaloner DT, Lamberti GA. . Green Chemistry 2010; 12(6):1066 — 1071.
Docherty KM, Joyce MV, Kulacki KJ, Kulpa CF. . Green Chemistry 2010; 12:701 — 712.
Kulacki KJ, Lamberti GA. . Green Chemistry 2008; 10:104 — 110.
Kulacki KJ, Chaloner DT, Costello DM, Docherty KM, Larson JH, Bernot RJ, Brueseke MA, Kulpa Jr. CF, Lamberti GA. . Chemistry Today 2007; 25(6):(supp)32 — 36.
Selected Presentations
Kulacki K, Goodfellow Jr. W, James J. Fate, transport and risk assessment of dicyclopentadiene in an agricultural setting: a case study following a train derailment. SETAC, Portland, OR, November 16-20, 2025.
Kulacki K, Goodfellow Jr. W. Evaluating risks from cosmetics and personal care products: use of (in)appropriate testing frameworks. SETAC, Fort Worth, TX, October 20-24, 2024.
Goodfellow Jr. W, Kulacki K. Wastewater management strategies: what happens if your water quality becomes "too good"? SETAC, Fort Worth, TX, October 20-24, 2024.
Driscoll SK, White C, Kulacki K, Worthen A, Pitt J. The changing fate of plastics in the environment. Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, Webinar, June 26, 2024.
Kulacki K, Leatherwood C, Moll J, Thomas W. Exposing the cracks: litigation case studies and environmental issues in plastic construction materials. International Association of Defense Counsel, Webinar, June 19, 2024.
Steele A, Kulacki K, White C. Unwrapped: implications of regulatory restrictions on recycling and additives in plastic packaging. SETAC, Louisville, KY. November 12-16, 2023.
Kulacki K, Steele A, Goodfellow Jr. W. Strategies for toxicity identification evaluations when standard tests and species do not resolve the toxicity. SETAC, Pittsburgh, PA. November 13-17, 2022.
Kulacki K, Steele A, Fleming M, Goodfellow Jr. W. Whole effluent toxicity (WET) assessments and experimental considerations for evaluating coagulation agents and polymers for wastewater treatment of coal combustion products. World of Coal Ash, Covington, KY. May 16-19, 2022.
Kulacki K, Steele A, Fleming M, Goodfellow Jr. W. Assessment of potential effluent toxicity from ash basin dewatering operations. SETAC (Virtual Meeting),14-18 November 2021.
Kulacki K, Ripatti D, Buss H, Driscoll SK. Plastics: environmental concerns, regulatory updates, and industrial responses. Ģ��tv Live webinar, May 27, 2021.
Kulacki K, Driscoll SK, Kierski M, Sanders J, Goodfellow Jr. W. Macroplastics in the environment. SETAC, Toronto, Ontario, CA, November 3-7, 2019.
Driscoll SK, Hauri J, Kulacki K, Morrison AM, McArdle M, Schierz A, Yozzo K, Edwards M. The influence of mixing energy on the concentration and composition of oil in laboratory toxicity tests. SETAC, Orlando, FL, November 6-10, 2016.
Kulacki K, Ziccardi L, Hentz K, Driscoll SK. Can hydrophobic organic chemicals sorbed to microplastics affect aquatic organisms? A review of laboratory studies. SETAC, Orlando, FL, November 6-10, 2016.
Kulacki K, He N, Parent PJ, McCarthy ME, Costello DM, Tiegs SD, Fritschie KJ, Cardinale BJ. Stressed out streams: Ranking the effects of stressors on stream periphyton. ESA, Portland, OR, August 6-10, 2012.
Kulacki K, Bennett S, Cardinale B. Effects of n-TiO2 on freshwater phytoplankton. SETAC Boston, MA, November 13-17, 2011.
Kulacki K. Proactive aquatic ecotoxicology: Evaluating tomorrow's stressors today. Chapman University, March 11, 2011.
Kulacki K, Bier R, Dickson H, Cardinale B, Keller A, Nisbet R, Holden P, Klanjscek T, Priester J, Clark K, Thio R. Effects of nano-TiO2 on the structure and function of stream ecosystems: An ongoing experiment in freshwater mesocosms. ICEIN, Los Angeles, CA, May 11-13, 2010.
Kulacki K, Costello D, Lamberti G. Predicting the toxicity of novel chemicals to benthic and pelagic organisms using experimentation and mathematical modeling. NABS, Salt Lake City, UT, May 26-29, 2008.
Lamberti G, Kulacki K, Docherty K, Costello D, Bernot R, Matsuo A, Larson J, Brueseke M, Dixon J, Brennecke J, Maginn E, Stadtherr M, Chaloner D, Kulpa Jr. C. Ecotoxicity and biodegradability of ionic liquids for aquatic organisms. EMD-Merck Workshop, Notre Dame, IN, July 17, 2007.
Kulacki K, Bernot R, Chaloner D, Lamberti G. Combining experiments and modeling to evaluate ionic liquid toxicity to freshwater planktonic communities. BATIL, Berlin, Germany, May 6-8, 2007.
Kulacki K, Drake J, Lodge D. Developing a framework for invasive species risk assessment: chemical risk assessment as a possible model. SETAC, Montreal, Canada, November 5-9, 2006.
Kulacki K, Lodge D, Lamberti G. Effects of novel 'green' chemicals on freshwater plankton. SETAC - OVC, Fort Wayne, IN, April 21, 2006.

Ģ��tv

Konrad Kulacki

Konrad's recent insights

EFSA Issues New Micro- and Nanoplastics Literature Review

EPA Releases National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution

Ģ��tv Authors Share Risk Assessment Expertise in New Book

Unwrapping Recycling Challenges in Thermoplastics

EU Bans Glitter in Ongoing Efforts to Restrict Microplastics

Project Experience

Publications

Peer Reviews

Prior Experiences