New Professor in Beef Genomics

The Department of Animal and Poultry Science is pleased to announce Dr. Angela Canovas as the new Beef/Small Ruminant Genomics Professor beginning June 15, 2015.

Canovas will join the department as an assistant professor and will work closely with the Ontario and Canadian beef industry. She will also play a key role in the University of Guelph’s Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock. 

“The search committee was very impressed,” shares Jim Squires, interim chair of the department. “Dr. Canovas demonstrated strong ability in research and sound teaching and interpersonal skills for interacting with students.”

Canovas has a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the University of Lleida in Spain. She comes to the department from UC Davis where she has been working as a postdoctoral fellow and Fulbright Scholar. She has published 20 peer-reviewed papers, many of them in high impact journals.

She brings cutting edge systems biology, transcriptomics and bioinformatics research tools to the position and a demonstrated commitment to building strong relationships with industry groups.

The Ontario beef industry is an important economic driver, with current farm gate sales of approximately $1 billion, processing revenue of $3.25 billion, and retail sales of $9 billion per year. The Ontario beef industry is also a significant job creator, responsible for 11,000 jobs in primary production, 8,000 in processing and 42,000 in retail.