Patrick Hayes

Patrick Hayes is an Adjunct Research Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Western Australia. His research focuses on plant adaptations to nutrient-poor environments, particularly phosphorus-use efficiency mechanisms in Proteaceae species. He holds a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018–2020) and a Marschner Young Scientist Award. His work integrates ecology, plant physiology, and microbiology to explore soil-plant interactions, chronosequences, and biodiversity patterns.

Research Interests:

• Phosphorus acquisition and use efficiency in plants
• Plant-soil-microbe interactions in nutrient-poor ecosystems
• Chronosequence analysis of ecosystem development
• Adaptation strategies of calcifuge plants
• Global soil antibiotic resistome dynamics

Key Contributions:

Hayes has authored over 30 publications, including influential work on silicon-carbon trade-offs in sedges, phosphorus availability in chronosequences, and the AusTraits database for Australian flora traits. His research bridges fundamental ecology with applied challenges in agriculture and conservation.

Awards:

• JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
• Marschner Young Scientist Award (International Plant Nutrition Colloquium)

Labs & Collaborations:

He collaborates globally on soil biodiversity projects and leads initiatives on plant adaptation mechanisms. His work is supported by datasets like AusTraits, a comprehensive resource for Australian plant traits.