Kirk Scheckel is a Research Soil Scientist in the National Risk Management Research Laboratory of the USEPA. He earned his B.S. from Iowa State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. His research focus is solving fundamental issues regarding element speciation in soils, sediments, and water via advanced, molecular-level spectroscopic techniques coupled with laboratory and field research to elucidate reaction mechanisms that influence fate in the natural environment leading to effective and economical remediation/use strategies. Dr. Scheckel has authored or co-authored 65 referred journal articles, 23 reports, 160 abstracts, and one patent. He served two terms as associate editor for Journal of Environmental Quality. Dr. Scheckel is an adjunct faculty member at the Ohio State University and serves on several graduate student committees. He is active in the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and American Society of Agronomy (ASA) for which he is a Fellow in both societies.