She received her doctorate in clinical forensic psychology in 1999 from Simon Fraser University. She is currently an Associate Editor of Law and Human Behavior. Her research and publications in forensic psychology involve the assessment and conceptualization of various types of competencies and the utility of various methods in competency assessment as well as various aspects of forensic assessment (risk assessment, malingering, insanity), and the development and validation of forensic assessment instruments. Dr. Zapf is a fellow of the American Psychological Association.