His research interests includes the birth, evolution of binary and millisecond pulsars, gravitational waves detection using an array of millisecond pulsars and radio astronomy data processing system design for Fast Radio Burst discovery.

He is now leading his team to re-engineer the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope with a newly designed correlation system for observation of pulsars and Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs).

[7] Bailes research interests are in astrophysics, pulsars, fast radio bursts and gravitational waves.

[11] In 2023, he was awarded the Shaw Prize in Astronomy shared equally with Duncan Lorimer and Maura McLaughlin for their discovery of FRBs.

[12][13][14] In 2024, Bailes was awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Science for his work in the discovery of FRBs.