Angela Costa graduated in Animal Science in 2014 (Bachelor Degree) at the University of Padova with the score 110/110 cum laude (supervisor: Prof. Gerolamo Xiccato). In July 2016, she obtained the Master’s Degree in Animal Science with a final score of 110/110 cum laude, discussing a thesis on the relation between farm management practices and bulk milk somatic cell count (supervisor: Prof. Massimo De Marchi).
She started the PhD in Animal and Food Science (Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment - University of Padova) in October 2016 under the supervision of Prof. Mauro Penasa. The PhD thesis entitled “Genetic and genomic background of lactose in bovine milk” was defended on February 12, 2020. In 2018 she spent two study and research periods abroad. In particular, 6 months at University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU, Vienna, Austria) were spent under the supervision of Prof. Johann Sölkner, Prof. Gábor Mészáros, and Dr. Birgit Fuerst-Waltl. In the same year, she was visiting researcher at Wageningen University and Research (WUR, Wageningen, The Netherlands), supervised by Prof. Henk Bovenhuis for a 3-month research period. Her research activity is documented by several scientific papers published in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international meetings and congresses.
Past and current collaborations: National Association of Holstein, Brown, and Jersey Breeders (ANAFIBJ), National Association of Buffalo Breeders (ANASB), Università di Napoli Federico II, Università di Padova, Università Libera di Bolzano, Massey University of New Zealand, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences BOKU, Institut Agro Rennes, INRAE UMR PEGASE, INRAE UMR SADAPT, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa, Ankara University, Egyptian Animal Reproduction Research Institute, Ibn Tofail University, Unilasalle Paris, Wageningen University and Research, Zuchtdata, International Dairy Federation (FIL/IDF), Danone, and Fonterra.
She won the scholarship of “Fondazione Ing. Aldo Gini” (December 2017) for PhD students during research periods abroad, the “Young Scientist Registration Scholarship” (February 2018) for attending the 11th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP) and the “European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) scholarship” (April 2019) for attending the 70th annual meeting in Ghent (Belgium). On 23 September 2021, during the congress of the Italian Animal Science and Production Association (ASPA), she was awarded the "Donato Matassino" award for the best PhD thesis on animal breeding and genetics. In September 2022, she was invited tob attend the IDF World Dairy Summit in India (New Delhi) to receive the award for the Pavel Jelen Prize for young researchers with research activities on dairy.
She is official member of:
- Animal Science and Production Association (ASPA)
- Italian Federation of Doctors in Production Animals science (FIDSPA)
- American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)
- European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP)
- Italian Dairy Association (Assolatte)
- International Dairy Federation (FIL/IDF), Italian committee.
Angela Costa has worked on animal breeding and genetics, milk and dairy products quality, and animal health (scientific group 07/AGRI-09, formerly SSD AGR/17 and AGR/19).
She is currently covering the position of Assistant Professor (RTD/B) at the DIMEVET for the scientific group 07/AGRI-09/A, formerly AGR/17.
She is Coordinator (PI) of: n. 1 national project (call PRIN 2022 PNRR, "Watermoo") and n. 1 European project (call PRIMA 2023, "SUPREM-MILK"). Member of the research team involved in n. 2 research project within the framework of the Contratti di Filiera MASAF V call and in the PNRR project "AGRITECH - Centro Nazionale per le Tecnologie dell’Agricoltura".
