Sai Casado Zapico
(Sara C. Zapico)
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science
365 Tiernan Hall (TIER)
About Me
Sara C. Zapico is an assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science in the College of Science and Liberal Arts. She is also a Research Collaborator at Smithsonian Institution. Her laboratory, "Interdisciplinary Forensics and Biomedical Sciences Lab" (ForenBioS) focuses on the application of biochemical techniques to forensic sciences issues like age-at-death estimation, post-mortem interval determination, body fluid identification, and DNA extraction from tough substrates, with implications in biomedical sciences and cell biology.
Education
Ph.D.; Institute for Cancer Research of Principado de Asturias; Biochemistry; 2012
M.S.; University of Granada; Forensic Anthropology and Genetics; 2011
M.S.; University of Oviedo; Biochemistry; 2008
B.S.; University of Oviedo; Biochemistry; 2006
M.S.; University of Oviedo; Education ; 2004
B.S.; University of Oviedo; Biological Sciences; 2003
M.S.; University of Granada; Forensic Anthropology and Genetics; 2011
M.S.; University of Oviedo; Biochemistry; 2008
B.S.; University of Oviedo; Biochemistry; 2006
M.S.; University of Oviedo; Education ; 2004
B.S.; University of Oviedo; Biological Sciences; 2003
2026 Fall Courses
EVSC 592 - GRADUATE WORK EXPERIENCE II
EVSC 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
FRSC 491 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY I
CHEM 491 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY I
CHEM 492 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY
EVSC 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CHEM 590 - GRADUATE CO-OP WORK EXPER I
CHEM 591 - GRADUATE CO-OP WORK EXPER II
CHEM 700B - MASTERS PROJECT
CHEM 701B - MASTERS THESIS
EVSC 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
EVSC 790A - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
EVSC 591 - GRADUATE WORK EXPERIENCE I
CHEM 701C - MASTERS THESIS
CHEM 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
EVSC 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CHEM 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
FRSC 201 - INTRO TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
CHEM 391 - RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
CHEM 792B - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
EVSC 792B - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
CHEM 790A - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
EVSC 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
EVSC 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
FRSC 491 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY I
CHEM 491 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY I
CHEM 492 - RESEARCH & INDEP STUDY
EVSC 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
CHEM 590 - GRADUATE CO-OP WORK EXPER I
CHEM 591 - GRADUATE CO-OP WORK EXPER II
CHEM 700B - MASTERS PROJECT
CHEM 701B - MASTERS THESIS
EVSC 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
EVSC 790A - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
EVSC 591 - GRADUATE WORK EXPERIENCE I
CHEM 701C - MASTERS THESIS
CHEM 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
EVSC 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
CHEM 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY I
FRSC 201 - INTRO TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
CHEM 391 - RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
CHEM 792B - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
EVSC 792B - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
CHEM 790A - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
EVSC 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
Teaching Interests
Forensic sciences, biochemistry, forensic anthropology, forensic biology, medicolegal death investigations
Past Courses
CHEM 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
EVSC 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
FRSC 201: INTRO TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
FRSC 479: FORENSIC BIOLOGY & LAB
FRSC 498: ST: FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
EVSC 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
FRSC 201: INTRO TO FORENSIC SCIENCE
FRSC 479: FORENSIC BIOLOGY & LAB
FRSC 498: ST: FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
Research Interests
The Interdisciplinary Forensics and Biomedical Sciences Lab (ForenBioS) applies biochemical techniques to solve/improve current issues in forensic sciences:
1)Epigenetics to improve age-at-death estimation in forensic anthropology.
2) Post-mortem Interval determinations based on -omics technologies.
3) Body fluid identification applying protein-based technologies.
4) DNA recovering from tough samples through modification of extraction methodologies.
1)Epigenetics to improve age-at-death estimation in forensic anthropology.
2) Post-mortem Interval determinations based on -omics technologies.
3) Body fluid identification applying protein-based technologies.
4) DNA recovering from tough samples through modification of extraction methodologies.
Journal Article
Sara Casado Zapico, Eun Young Choi, Lingzhi Chu, Alexandra Holland, Arun Balachandran, Sadaf Arefi Milani, Roger Wong, Tina Brinkley, Stephen Kritchevsky.
2026. "Older adults and extreme weather events: recommendations from the Research Centers Collaborative Network workshop."
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. , vol. 81 , no. 8 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Christian Stadler, Gabriela Roca. 2026. "Commentary to "Enhancing forensic DNA recovery: Addressing gaps in washing treatment studies." J Forensic Leg Med. , vol. 120 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Maria Josefina Castagnola, Mayaas Hassan, Ryan Smith, Varum Dwaraka. 2026. "The Epigenetic Fingerprint of Lifestyle: Smoking, Vaping, and Exercise Revealed Through Buccal DNA Methylation." Genes , vol. 17 , no. 4 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Shelby Feirstein, Maria Josefina Castagnola, Dakota Bell, Mayaas Hassan, Alixs Pujols, Luis Cabo, Joe Adserias-Garriga. 2026. "Assessing the Micro- and Macroscopic Changes of Chemically Altered Human Bone and Teeth." Biomolecules , vol. 16 , no. 1 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Dana Macfarlane , Christian Stadler, Gabriela Roca. 2026. "The Mystery of the Hidden Trace: Emerging Genetic Approaches to Improve Body Fluid Identification." Genes , vol. 17 , no. 2 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Christian Stadler, Gabriela Roca. 2026. "Commentary to "Enhancing forensic DNA recovery: Addressing gaps in washing treatment studies." J Forensic Leg Med. , vol. 120 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Maria Josefina Castagnola, Mayaas Hassan, Ryan Smith, Varum Dwaraka. 2026. "The Epigenetic Fingerprint of Lifestyle: Smoking, Vaping, and Exercise Revealed Through Buccal DNA Methylation." Genes , vol. 17 , no. 4 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Shelby Feirstein, Maria Josefina Castagnola, Dakota Bell, Mayaas Hassan, Alixs Pujols, Luis Cabo, Joe Adserias-Garriga. 2026. "Assessing the Micro- and Macroscopic Changes of Chemically Altered Human Bone and Teeth." Biomolecules , vol. 16 , no. 1 .
Sara Casado Zapico, Dana Macfarlane , Christian Stadler, Gabriela Roca. 2026. "The Mystery of the Hidden Trace: Emerging Genetic Approaches to Improve Body Fluid Identification." Genes , vol. 17 , no. 2 .
SHOW MORE
Book
Sara Casado Zapico.
"Forensic Science and Epigenetics: How Epigenetics Could Help Solve Crimes."
Springer Nature. , 2026.
Sarah Ellingham, Joe Adserias-Garriga, Sara Casado Zapico, Douglas H. Ubelaker. "Burnt Human Remains: recovery, analysis, and interpretation." Wiley, 2023. ISBN 9781119682608.
Roberto C. Parra, Sara C. Zapico, Douglas H. Ubelaker. "Forensic Science and Humanitarian Action. Interacting with the dead and the living." Wiley, 2020. ISBN 978-1-119-48196-6.
Sara C. Zapico. "Mechanisms linking aging, diseases and biological age estimation." CRC Press , 2016. ISBN 9781498709699.
Sarah Ellingham, Joe Adserias-Garriga, Sara Casado Zapico, Douglas H. Ubelaker. "Burnt Human Remains: recovery, analysis, and interpretation." Wiley, 2023. ISBN 9781119682608.
Roberto C. Parra, Sara C. Zapico, Douglas H. Ubelaker. "Forensic Science and Humanitarian Action. Interacting with the dead and the living." Wiley, 2020. ISBN 978-1-119-48196-6.
Sara C. Zapico. "Mechanisms linking aging, diseases and biological age estimation." CRC Press , 2016. ISBN 9781498709699.
Chapter
Joe Adserias-Garriga, Timothy Yaroshuk, Sara C. Zapico.
" Changes in Microbial Communities Throughout the Body Decomposition Process and Its Potential Application in Forensic Casework."
In Surajit Das and Hirak Ranjan Dash, eds.,
"Microbial Diversity in the Genomic Era,"
Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier, 2024.
Sara C. Zapico. "Latent Fingermarks and DNA Recovery." In Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul, eds., "Technologies for Fingermark Age Estimations: A Step Forward," Springer, 2021.
Sara C. Zapico, Rebecca Stone-Gordon, Joe Adserias-Garriga. "Chapter 13 - The evolution of methodology in biochemical age estimation." In Joe Adserias-Garriga, eds., "Age Estimation: a multidisciplinary approach," Elsevier, 2019.
Sara C. Zapico, Cassandra M. DeGaglia, Joe Adserias-Garriga. "Chapter 14 - Age estimation based on chemical approaches." In Joe Adserias-Garriga, eds., "Age Estimation: a multidisciplinary approach," Elsevier, 2019.
Sara C. Zapico, Christian Thomas, Silvia Zoppis. "Chapter 15 - Age estimation based on molecular biology approaches." In Joe Adserias-Garriga, eds., "Age Estimation: a multidisciplinary approach," Elsevier, 2019.
Paula Núñez, Sara C. Zapico. "Melatonin: A double-edge Sword for Cancer Treatment." In Lucille Monaco Cacioppo, eds., "Chemistry Research Summaries Volume 20," Nova Publishers, 2018.
Sara C. Zapico, Joe Adserias-Garriga. "New approaches in Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimation." In Johanna Brewer, eds., "Forensic Science: New Developments, Perspectives and Advanced Technologies," Nova Publishers, 2015.
Sara C. Zapico. "Latent Fingermarks and DNA Recovery." In Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul, eds., "Technologies for Fingermark Age Estimations: A Step Forward," Springer, 2021.
Sara C. Zapico, Rebecca Stone-Gordon, Joe Adserias-Garriga. "Chapter 13 - The evolution of methodology in biochemical age estimation." In Joe Adserias-Garriga, eds., "Age Estimation: a multidisciplinary approach," Elsevier, 2019.
Sara C. Zapico, Cassandra M. DeGaglia, Joe Adserias-Garriga. "Chapter 14 - Age estimation based on chemical approaches." In Joe Adserias-Garriga, eds., "Age Estimation: a multidisciplinary approach," Elsevier, 2019.
Sara C. Zapico, Christian Thomas, Silvia Zoppis. "Chapter 15 - Age estimation based on molecular biology approaches." In Joe Adserias-Garriga, eds., "Age Estimation: a multidisciplinary approach," Elsevier, 2019.
Paula Núñez, Sara C. Zapico. "Melatonin: A double-edge Sword for Cancer Treatment." In Lucille Monaco Cacioppo, eds., "Chemistry Research Summaries Volume 20," Nova Publishers, 2018.
Sara C. Zapico, Joe Adserias-Garriga. "New approaches in Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimation." In Johanna Brewer, eds., "Forensic Science: New Developments, Perspectives and Advanced Technologies," Nova Publishers, 2015.