Angela Gonella has conducted innovative research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the role of the female reproductive tract in early pregnancy and postnatal development. She has led groundbreaking studies on how the reproductive tract environment influences embryo and fetal development. In a series of experiments, her lab investigated the effects of feeding cows diets rich in methyl donors (using rumen-protected methionine, RPM) around the time of artificial insemination. She demonstrated that calves from cows receiving RPM had greater growth and average daily gain by one year of age. Gene expression analysis revealed distinct differences in the liver and muscle. Gonella’s lab is also focused on identifying molecular markers for feed and reproductive efficiency. Her team has used genomics, metabolomics, and phenomics to identify potential biomarkers for feed efficiency and to explore the relationship between feed efficiency and seminal quality in young bulls.