Professor Garstka is an expert in the bankruptcy process and has written on ways to reform it. His general interests include contemporary issues in accounting and the restructuring of troubled companies. His research has been published in leading management science and accounting journals. He has co-authored three accounting texts, the most recent, Financial Accounting, 2004, South-Western College Publishing, was co-authored with Rick Antle.

Professor Garstka has served on the boards of several corporate and nonprofit organizations, has consulted widely to organizations in all sectors, and recently served as the independent consultant for Thomas Weisel Partners LLC to procure independent research providers as part of the global settlement of conflicts of interest between research and investment banking announced by the SEC.