The research group of Paul A. Haynes are interested in understanding what happens at the protein and other molecular levels inside cell when the organism or environment is subject to external pressures. We use chemical analysis techniques to answer biological questions. We have also developed numerous projects in recent years in the area of bioarchaeology, using molecular level analytical techniques to uncover new historical information.

His research group  is mainly funded by the Australian Research Council, including a current Discovery Project, a current Training Centre in Bioactives, and a previous ARC Training Centre for Molecular Technologies in the Food Industry, where he was the Centre Director. He also is part of a current project with Sasha Tetu funded by National Parks and Wildlife, looking at proteome level changes in Alpine vegetation species due to anthropogenic impacts, and a current ARC funded project with Simon Griffith looking at changes in the proteome of sparrows due to environmental exposure to high lead levels.

He has published 192 peer-reviewed papers, most of which can be found here, 4 issued patents, 3 patent applications, and more than 130 conference papers. According to Google Scholar, as at March 2025, is publications have been cited more than 14,000 times in total, at an average of >74 citations each, and an average of 657 citations each for the top 10 papers, and he has 31 papers with greater than 100 citations and six papers with more than 500 citations. He has a H-index of 59, and an i10 index of 154. For the last 5 years alone he has a H-index of 33 and i10 index of 97, and an m-index of 2.0, considered to be characteristic of an outstanding scientist. He also has a consistent record of success in attracting fellowship and research grant funding, including Australian research Council grants to the value of over $12.5 million and other research grants worth nearly $1 million.

Paul is currently President of the Asia Oceania Agricultural Proteomics Organisation, and in that role is responsible for organising an annual meeting which typically has about 200 to 300 attendees from all over Asia. He is also an organizer for the Art Museums and Archaeology Interest group of the American Society for Mass spectrometry. He was a member of the ARC College of Experts from 2019 to 2022, which required playing a major role in grant assessments and policy development. He is also a member of the Executive Editorial Board of Proteomics, the editorial board for Frontiers in Plant Proteomics, the American Society for Mass spectrometry (since 1999) and the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles.

Paul graduated from MQ with a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1994. After postdoctoral Fellowship positions at the Rockefeller University in New York and the University of Washington in Seattle, he was a principal scientist at the Torrey Mesa Research Institute in San Diego, before taking up a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He returned to Australia in 2006 to take up a NSW government funded fellowship position at Macquarie, and was appointed in 2011 as a Professor in the Department of Molecular Sciences, which was incorporated into the School of Natural Sciences in 2022.

Paul teaches a postgraduate coursework unit in MOLS8211 Protein Discovery in first semester which has approximately 50 students, and a postgraduate coursework unit in MOLS8212 Proteomics Technologies and Applications in second semester which has approximately 67 students. He also lectures in several other units, including in a unit in archaeological methods in the Faculty of Arts.

Paul is currently supervising five fulltime Ph.D. students, one Master of Research student, and a postdoctoral fellow. Since commencing at Macquarie in 2006 he has successfully supervised to completion one honours student, four masters project students, seven Master of Research students and 16 Ph.D. students, four of whom have received the Vice- Chancellor’s commendation for academic excellence. In addition, he has been an associate supervisor for a large number of students.

He was previously the Director of Higher Degree Research for the School of Natural Sciences, with overall responsibility for the continued successful progression of around 250 Higher Degree Research students present in the school at any given time. He is a tireless advocate for higher degree research students, and is sustained excellence in this area was recognised in 2017 when he received the Macquarie University award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Student Supervision.

Paul A. Haynes is a Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University, who specialises in plant and environmental proteomics. His research laboratory has also branched out in recent years to include an active program in bioarchaeological proteomics in collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Ancient History. Paul graduated from MQ with a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1994.