In 1952, he started a fungal culture collection (with the official acronym PRL), mostly of industrially relevant fungi, which eventually included > 1200 strains.

Haskins discovered a new genus and new species of yeast-like fungi that he named Trichosporonoides oedocephalis,[4] which was isolated from brood cells of honey bees.

Several of them also produced polyols and culturing parameters were optimized and the strains mutated to maximize production, resulting in several patents.

[6] Haskins also studied antibiotic and pigment metabolites produced in a 23-litre liquid fermenter by corn smut (Ustilago maydis) and the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea).

Prior to moving to Saskatoon, Haskins was the head coach of the University of Western Ontario fencing team from 1939 to 1946, with a two-year break for military service between 1941 and 1942 as part of the Algonquin Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces.