Before starting his current position, Campana obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and his Master of Philosophy and doctorate from the University of Cambridge. His doctoral research utilized domestic horse mitochondrial DNA and nuclear racing-performance and coat color genes to track breed improvement in thoroughbred and Icelandic horses. He conducted post-doctoral research at Harvard University, the University of Zurich, and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. His postdoctoral research at Harvard focused on genomics of domesticated cochineal (Dactylopius coccus), a phytophagous scale insect used for red dye production. At Harvard and Zurich, Campana attempted to identify the huey cocoliztli, an infectious disease that decimated native Mexican populations during the colonial period, using ancient pathogen genomics.