Paulette Bloomer obtained a PhD from the University of Pretoria (Department of Zoology and Mammal Research Institute). She undertook postdoctoral studies with John Avise (University of Athens, USA), Tim Crowe (UCT) and Terry Robinson (UP).

In 1999 she was appointed in the Department of Genetics at the University of Pretoria, with promotion to full professor in 2010. She is the current term head of the Department.

Professor Bloomer has an NRF C2 rating and has published more than 50 research papers, book chapters, technical reports and proceedings.

She has served on the councils of the SASSB and SAWMA.