Paytan is both an interdisciplinary scientist and an advocate for STEM education and public outreach. As a scientist, Paytan uses isotopic and chemical signatures to examine global biogeochemical cycling. This includes studies of groundwater discharge into coastal systems, nutrient cycling, ocean acidification, and paleoceanography. This research includes high resolution measurements of carbon and sulfur isotopes to characterize changes in the marine and atmospheric carbon cycle, using strontium isotopes within barite  to infer changes in the global carbon cycle over geologic time, and modern investigations of groundwater discharge as a source of nutrients to the coastal ocean and coral reefs.
Paytan also deliberately works on STEM education and public outreach, and obtained an M.S. in Science Education from the Weizmann Institute in 1987. Paytan served as a mentor for the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) where she advocated for the role of universities in conducting public outreach. Paytan started the GeoKids program at Stanford in order to educate elementary school children about science. Paytan also mentors masters and Ph.D. students in her lab.