Paul James Moughan is a New Zealand scientist specialising in mammalian protein metabolism and its application to human nutrition and health.
Moughan completed his PhD at Massey University in 1984. He was subsequently appointed as an academic in 1985 at Massey University, with his research focussing on digestive physiology and intermediary metabolism. In 1995, he was awarded Massey University's highest qualification, Doctor of Science (DSc), based on his published works. He was also honoured with the Silver Medal of Honour from Wageningen University
In 1990, Moughan established Massey University's Monogastric Research Centre. He was appointed as Foundation Professor in Monogastric Biology at Massey University, in 1993 and a Personal Chair in 1996. When the University restructured, he formed a new multi-disciplinary Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health that spanned the three Massey University campuses. He was the foundation director of the Riddet Institute from 2003 to 2017, a centre of research excellence (CoRE). In 2005, he was appointed Distinguished Professor at Massey University. In 2018, he was appointed as Riddet Institute Fellow Laureate
Moughan has made contributions in the fields of digestive physiology, nutrient metabolism, the development of nutrient bio-availability assays, and food chemistry. His work has found wide application in human and animal nutrition, food science and in matters relevant to global food security and sustainable food production
In the 2026 New Year Honours, Moughan was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to science.