Sara Casado Zapico
Sara Casado Zapico
(Sara C. Zapico) Assistant Professor, 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
2024 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
Castagnola, María J. , & Medina-Paz, Francisco, & C. Zapico, Sara (2024). Uncovering Forensic Evidence: A Path to Age Estimation through DNA Methylation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(9), 4917.
Medina-Paz, Francisco, & Kuba, Brandon, & Kryvorutsky, Emily, & Roca, Gabriela, & C. Zapico, Sara (2024). Assessment of Blood and Semen Detection and DNA Collection from Swabs up to Three Months after Deposition on Five Different Cloth Materials. International Journal of Molecular Sciences , 25(6), 3522.
Casado Zapico, Sara, & Stadler, Christian, & Roca, Gabriela (2024). Assessment of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions. Journal of Forensic Science, 69(2), 631-639.
Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando, & Medina-Paz, Francisco, & Sapozhnikov, Mira , & Hurtado-Guerrero, Isaac, & Rubio, Leticia, & Martín-de-las-Heras, Stella, & Requena-Ocaña, Nerea, & Flores-López, María, & Fernandez-Arjona, María del Mar, & Rivera, Patricia, & Serrano, Antonia, & Serrano, Pedro , & Casado Zapico, Sara, & Suárez, Juan (2024). Plasma Concentrations of High Mobility Group Box 1 Proteins and Soluble Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products Are Relevant Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Pilot Study. Toxics, 12(3),
Casado Zapico, Sara, & Matos, Shayla , & Conte, Jillian (2024). Assessment of the efficiency of DNA isolation and profiling applying a temperature-driven method in human remains. Electrophoresis,
Medina-Paz, Francisco, & Kuba, Brandon, & Kryvorutsky, Emily, & Roca, Gabriela, & C. Zapico, Sara (2024). Assessment of Blood and Semen Detection and DNA Collection from Swabs up to Three Months after Deposition on Five Different Cloth Materials. International Journal of Molecular Sciences , 25(6), 3522.
Casado Zapico, Sara, & Stadler, Christian, & Roca, Gabriela (2024). Assessment of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions. Journal of Forensic Science, 69(2), 631-639.
Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando, & Medina-Paz, Francisco, & Sapozhnikov, Mira , & Hurtado-Guerrero, Isaac, & Rubio, Leticia, & Martín-de-las-Heras, Stella, & Requena-Ocaña, Nerea, & Flores-López, María, & Fernandez-Arjona, María del Mar, & Rivera, Patricia, & Serrano, Antonia, & Serrano, Pedro , & Casado Zapico, Sara, & Suárez, Juan (2024). Plasma Concentrations of High Mobility Group Box 1 Proteins and Soluble Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products Are Relevant Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairment in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Pilot Study. Toxics, 12(3),
Casado Zapico, Sara, & Matos, Shayla , & Conte, Jillian (2024). Assessment of the efficiency of DNA isolation and profiling applying a temperature-driven method in human remains. Electrophoresis,
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Chapter
Adserias-Garriga, Joe, & Yaroshuk, Timothy, & C. Zapico, Sara (2024). Changes in Microbial Communities Throughout the Body Decomposition Process and Its Potential Application in Forensic Casework, Surajit Das and Hirak Ranjan Dash (Eds.), Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier. Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier
C. Zapico, Sara (2021). Latent Fingermarks and DNA Recovery, Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul (Ed.), Springer. Springer
C. Zapico, Sara, & Stone-Gordon, Rebecca, & Adserias-Garriga, Joe (2019). Chapter 13 - The evolution of methodology in biochemical age estimation, Joe Adserias-Garriga (Ed.), Elsevier. Elsevier
C. Zapico, Sara, & DeGaglia, Cassandra M., & Adserias-Garriga, Joe (2019). Chapter 14 - Age estimation based on chemical approaches, Joe Adserias-Garriga (Ed.), Elsevier. Elsevier
C. Zapico, Sara, & Thomas, Christian, & Zoppis, Silvia (2019). Chapter 15 - Age estimation based on molecular biology approaches, Joe Adserias-Garriga (Ed.), Elsevier. Elsevier
Núñez, Paula, & C. Zapico, Sara (2018). Melatonin: A double-edge Sword for Cancer Treatment, Lucille Monaco Cacioppo (Ed.), Nova Publishers. Nova Publishers
C. Zapico, Sara, & Adserias-Garriga, Joe (2015). New approaches in Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimation, Johanna Brewer (Ed.), Nova Publishers. Nova Publishers
C. Zapico, Sara (2021). Latent Fingermarks and DNA Recovery, Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul (Ed.), Springer. Springer
C. Zapico, Sara, & Stone-Gordon, Rebecca, & Adserias-Garriga, Joe (2019). Chapter 13 - The evolution of methodology in biochemical age estimation, Joe Adserias-Garriga (Ed.), Elsevier. Elsevier
C. Zapico, Sara, & DeGaglia, Cassandra M., & Adserias-Garriga, Joe (2019). Chapter 14 - Age estimation based on chemical approaches, Joe Adserias-Garriga (Ed.), Elsevier. Elsevier
C. Zapico, Sara, & Thomas, Christian, & Zoppis, Silvia (2019). Chapter 15 - Age estimation based on molecular biology approaches, Joe Adserias-Garriga (Ed.), Elsevier. Elsevier
Núñez, Paula, & C. Zapico, Sara (2018). Melatonin: A double-edge Sword for Cancer Treatment, Lucille Monaco Cacioppo (Ed.), Nova Publishers. Nova Publishers
C. Zapico, Sara, & Adserias-Garriga, Joe (2015). New approaches in Postmortem Interval (PMI) estimation, Johanna Brewer (Ed.), Nova Publishers. Nova Publishers
Book
Ellingham, Sarah, & Adserias-Garriga, Joe, & Casado Zapico, Sara, & Ubelaker, Douglas H. (2023). Burnt Human Remains: recovery, analysis, and interpretation. Wiley
Parra, Roberto C., & C. Zapico, Sara, & Ubelaker, Douglas H. (2020). Forensic Science and Humanitarian Action. Interacting with the dead and the living. Wiley
C. Zapico, Sara (2016). Mechanisms linking aging, diseases and biological age estimation. CRC Press
Parra, Roberto C., & C. Zapico, Sara, & Ubelaker, Douglas H. (2020). Forensic Science and Humanitarian Action. Interacting with the dead and the living. Wiley
C. Zapico, Sara (2016). Mechanisms linking aging, diseases and biological age estimation. CRC Press