Academic History
Ph.D., September 2009 to 2015. Phylogenetics and Dental Evolution in Sphenacodontidae (Synapsida). Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto. Co-Supervisors: Dr. Robert Reisz and Dr. David Evans. Convocation: November 2015
M.Sc., September 2007 to August 2009. Ontogeny and evolution of the lambeosaurine dinosaur Hypacrosaurus stebingeri (Ornithischia: Hadrosauridae). Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary. Supervisor: Dr. Darla Zelenitsky.
B.Sc., 2006. Double major in Earth Sciences and Biological Sciences, University of Alberta.
Conference Abstracts
Oral conference presentations
Brink, K.S., K. Chiba and J. Richman. 2018. Timing of tooth development and tooth replacement in homodont and heterodont dentitions. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, San Francisco.
Brink, K.S., T. Grieco, and J. Richman. 2017. Morphogenesis of the egg tooth in the leopard gecko as a model for the development of dental size variation in amniotes. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Calgary AB. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2017, p. 86.
Grieco, T, K. Brink, and J. Richman. 2017. Gecko dentistry: Surgeries elucidate requirements for postnatal generation of dental tissues. 18th International Congress of Developmental Biology, Singapore. Mechanisms of Development, 145:S20.
Brink, K.S. 2016. Evolutionary changes in the feeding apparatus of the Early Permian sphenacodontid synapsid Dimetrodon in the context of the establishment of modern terrestrial ecosystems. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2016, p. 104.
Brink, K.S., T Grieco, J. Richman. 2016. Tissue level complexity of non-mammalian dentitions. 12th Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation meeting, Porvoo, Finland. p.25
Brink, K.S. M.J. MacDougall and R.R. Reisz. 2016. First occurrence of Dimetrodon (Synapsida: Sphenacodontidae) at the Early Permian Richards Spur locality, Oklahoma. Canadian Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 4th Annual Meeting, p.21–22.
Brink, K. 2015. Development of theropod dinosaur teeth, an evolutionary novelty for apex predators of the Mesozoic. Canadian Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 3rd Annual Meeting, p.10. Carroll Prize Competition Winner.
Brink, K.S., A.R.H. LeBlanc, D.C. Evans, and R.R. Reisz. 2013. Prevalence, origin, and anatomy of denticle ampullae in theropod dinosaur teeth. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, p.94.
Evans, D. C., N. Campione, K.S. Brink, R. Schott, and C.M. Brown. 2013. Wasted youth: the importance of ontogenetically equivalent semaphoronts in dinosaur phylogenetic systematics. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, p.123.
LeBlanc, A., K.S Brink, M. MacDougall, and R. Reisz. 2013. Phylogenetic patterns and functional interpretations of amniote plicidentine. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, p.161.
Brink, K.S. and R.R. Reisz. 2013. Tooth crown morphology and dental histology in the Early Permian synapsid Dimetrodon (Synapsida: Sphenacodontidae). Second International Symposium on Paleohistology, Bozeman, Montana.
Brink, K.S., R.R. Reisz, and D. Scott. 2011. Ontogeny and taxonomy of a new sphenacodontid specimen from the Early Permian of Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31(Suppl. 3):78.
Brink, K.S., D.K. Zelenitskty, D.C. Evans, J.R. Horner, F. Therrien. 2011. Hypacrosaurus stebingeri: an exceptional record of dinosaurian cranial ontogeny. Hadrosaur symposium, Royal Tyrrell Museum, Abstracts Volume p. 14-15.
Brink, K.S., and Reisz, R.R. 2011. Ontogeny of Dimetrodon milleri (Eupelycosauria: Sphenacodontidae) and implications for taxonomy. In: Johnson, G.D. (ed.). 12th International Symposium on Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates. Ichthyolith Issues Special Publication 12:14.
Brink, K.S. and Reisz, R.R. 2011. A juvenile sphenacodontid with implications for ontogeny and evolutionary history of non-mammalian synapsids. Ontario Ethology, Ecology, and Evolution Colloquium, Scarborough, Ontario, p. 16.
Brink, K.S., D.K. Zelenitsky, D.C. Evans, J.R. Horner, F. Therrien. 2009. Ontogenetic Development of the Skull of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri. Fourth International Symposium on Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, Museum of the Rockies Occasional Paper 4.
Brink, K.S., Ruth Stockey, and Graham Beard. 2007. Permineralized Cunninghamia twigs and leaves from the upper Cretaceous of Hornby Island, British Columbia. Seventh British Columbia Paleontological Symposium Abstracts Volume, p. 21. Courtenay, British Columbia.
Invited lectures
Brink, K.S. and R.R. Reisz. Tissue-level analysis of ziphodont teeth in terrestrial animals. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Washington, DC. Anatomical Record Special Volume 299, p. 95. 2016.
Brink, K.S., R.R. Reisz, and J.M. Richman. Using advanced imaging modalities to unravel microstructural complexity in non-mammalian dentitions. Canadian Society of Zoology Annual Meeting, Comparative Morphology and Development Section Symposium. May 12, 2016.
Brink, K.S. Development of theropod dinosaur teeth. Third International ROM Palaeohistology Workshop, 2015.
Brink, K.S., Renfei Feng, Jason Maley, Ruth Hoffemyer, Tom Ellis, Don Brinkman, and Ramaswami Sammynaiken. Tracing the life of dinosaurs recorded in the microanatomy of tooth enamel. Synchrotron Applications in Non-Traditional Sciences Workshop, Annual Users Meeting, Canadian Light Source, May 1st, 2014.
Brink, K.S. Development of the ampulla in archosaur teeth. First International ROM Palaeohistology Workshop 2013.
Brink, K.S., Reisz, R.R. Ecology and evolutionary trends in Palaeozoic synapsids: What do the teeth tell us? Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Colloquium 2013.
Brink, K.S. Cranial crest growth of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri. Alberta Palaeontological Society, November 2009.
Poster presentations
Brink, K.S., T.M. Grieco, and J.M. Richman. 2018. Initiation and development of tooth size differences in the leopard gecko. Gordon Research Seminar and Conference, Barga, Italy, February 10–16 2018.
Brink, K.S., T.M. Grieco, and J.M. Richman. 2017. Embryonic odontogenesis in the leopard gecko reveals contributions to tooth size disparity. Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology 2nd Biennial Meeting, University of Calgary.
Brink, K.S., Grieco, T.M., and Richman, J.M. 2017. Egg Tooth Morphogenesis in the Leopard Gecko: A Model for Dental Size Variation. American Association of Anatomists Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2017. Poster Award Finalist. The FASEB Journal 31(1 Supplement): 902.909.
Brink, K.S. and J. Richman. 2016 Effects of disrupting the dental lamina and mandibular nerve on tooth replacement in the green iguana (Squamata: Iguana iguana): A reanalysis of historic radiograph data. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Washington, DC. Anatomical Record Special Volume 299, p. 95.
Brink, K.S.; Larson, D.W., Evans, D.C. Enamel microstructure in ornithocheirid pterosaurs. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2015, p. 96.
Brink, K.S.; Evans, D.C; Maddin, H.C; Reisz, R.R. Phylogenetic assessment of Bathygnathus borealis, a derived species of Dimetrodon from Canada. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2014, p.97
Sammynaiken, R., Renfei Feng, Jason Maley, Ruth Hoffemyer, Kirstin Brink, Tom Ellis, Don Brinkman. Reading about the life of dinosaurs recorded on the enamel of teeth. Synchrotron radiation and neutrons in art and archaeology (SR2A-2014), Paris.
Brink, K.S. and Reisz, R.R. 2014. Hidden dental diversity in the oldest terrestrial apex predator Dimetrodon revealed through SEM and histology. University of Toronto Mississauga Research and Excellence Celebration, p. 1
Spindler, F., Kirstin Brink, and Graciela Piñeiro. 2013. An upgraded perspective to basal Sphenacodontia, the stem group of mammal-like amniotes. Paläontologische Gesellschaft, Faculty of Geosciences and Geography at the Georg-August University Göttingen.
Brink, K.S., Aaron R.H. LeBlanc, R.R. Reisz. 2013. A histological examination of tooth implantation in Early Permian non-mammalian synapsids. University of Toronto Mississauga Research and Excellence Celebration, p.3.
Brink, K.S., Aaron R.H. LeBlanc, P. Martin Sander, R.R. Reisz. Dental histology and tooth implantation in early Permian non-mammalian synapsids. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, 2012, p.68.
Brink, K.S., Aaron R.H. LeBlanc, R.R. Reisz. 2012. Dental histology in the Early Permian sphenacodontids Dimetrodon and Sphenacodon. Canadian Paleontology Conference Proceedings number 10, abstracts volume p.17, Toronto, Ontario.
Brink, K.S., D. K. Zelenitsky, D. C. Evans, and F. Therrien. 2010. Affinities of lambeosaurine (Ornithischia: Hadrosauridae) embryos from Devil’s Coulee (Campanian), Alberta. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(Suppl. 3): 65A.
Brink, K.S., D. K. Zelenitsky, D. C. Evans, and J. R. Horner. 2009. Cranial crest growth of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri and an allometric analysis of North American lambeosaurines. Alberta Palaeontological Society, Thirteenth Annual Symposium, abstracts volume p.5, Calgary, Alberta.
Brink, K.S., D. K. Zelenitsky, D. C. Evans, and J. R. Horner. 2008. New sub-adult Hypacrosaurus stebingeri skulls and a comparative analysis of allometric crest growth in lambeosaurines. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(Suppl. 3):56A.
Brink, K.S., Ruth Stockey, and Graham Beard. 2008. Cretaceous Cunninghamia leaves and twigs from Vancouver Island. University of Alberta Paleontological Society, Second Biennial Symposium, Abstract Volume, p. 25. Edmonton, Alberta.
Brink, K.S., Ruth Stockey, and Graham Beard. 2007. Permineralized Cunninghamia twigs and leaves from the upper Cretaceous of Hornby Island, British Columbia. Alberta Palaeontological Society, eleventh annual symposium abstracts volume p.7. Calgary, Alberta.
Ellis, A., Kirstin Brink, Brian D.E. Chatterton, and Mark V.H. Wilson. 2006. Marine fauna from the Cretaceous of Morocco. University of Alberta Palaeontological Society first bi-annual symposium abstracts volume, p. 25. Edmonton, Alberta.
Ph.D., September 2009 to 2015. Phylogenetics and Dental Evolution in Sphenacodontidae (Synapsida). Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto. Co-Supervisors: Dr. Robert Reisz and Dr. David Evans. Convocation: November 2015
M.Sc., September 2007 to August 2009. Ontogeny and evolution of the lambeosaurine dinosaur Hypacrosaurus stebingeri (Ornithischia: Hadrosauridae). Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary. Supervisor: Dr. Darla Zelenitsky.
B.Sc., 2006. Double major in Earth Sciences and Biological Sciences, University of Alberta.
Conference Abstracts
Oral conference presentations
Brink, K.S., K. Chiba and J. Richman. 2018. Timing of tooth development and tooth replacement in homodont and heterodont dentitions. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, San Francisco.
Brink, K.S., T. Grieco, and J. Richman. 2017. Morphogenesis of the egg tooth in the leopard gecko as a model for the development of dental size variation in amniotes. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Calgary AB. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2017, p. 86.
Grieco, T, K. Brink, and J. Richman. 2017. Gecko dentistry: Surgeries elucidate requirements for postnatal generation of dental tissues. 18th International Congress of Developmental Biology, Singapore. Mechanisms of Development, 145:S20.
Brink, K.S. 2016. Evolutionary changes in the feeding apparatus of the Early Permian sphenacodontid synapsid Dimetrodon in the context of the establishment of modern terrestrial ecosystems. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2016, p. 104.
Brink, K.S., T Grieco, J. Richman. 2016. Tissue level complexity of non-mammalian dentitions. 12th Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation meeting, Porvoo, Finland. p.25
Brink, K.S. M.J. MacDougall and R.R. Reisz. 2016. First occurrence of Dimetrodon (Synapsida: Sphenacodontidae) at the Early Permian Richards Spur locality, Oklahoma. Canadian Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 4th Annual Meeting, p.21–22.
Brink, K. 2015. Development of theropod dinosaur teeth, an evolutionary novelty for apex predators of the Mesozoic. Canadian Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 3rd Annual Meeting, p.10. Carroll Prize Competition Winner.
Brink, K.S., A.R.H. LeBlanc, D.C. Evans, and R.R. Reisz. 2013. Prevalence, origin, and anatomy of denticle ampullae in theropod dinosaur teeth. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, p.94.
Evans, D. C., N. Campione, K.S. Brink, R. Schott, and C.M. Brown. 2013. Wasted youth: the importance of ontogenetically equivalent semaphoronts in dinosaur phylogenetic systematics. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, p.123.
LeBlanc, A., K.S Brink, M. MacDougall, and R. Reisz. 2013. Phylogenetic patterns and functional interpretations of amniote plicidentine. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, p.161.
Brink, K.S. and R.R. Reisz. 2013. Tooth crown morphology and dental histology in the Early Permian synapsid Dimetrodon (Synapsida: Sphenacodontidae). Second International Symposium on Paleohistology, Bozeman, Montana.
Brink, K.S., R.R. Reisz, and D. Scott. 2011. Ontogeny and taxonomy of a new sphenacodontid specimen from the Early Permian of Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31(Suppl. 3):78.
Brink, K.S., D.K. Zelenitskty, D.C. Evans, J.R. Horner, F. Therrien. 2011. Hypacrosaurus stebingeri: an exceptional record of dinosaurian cranial ontogeny. Hadrosaur symposium, Royal Tyrrell Museum, Abstracts Volume p. 14-15.
Brink, K.S., and Reisz, R.R. 2011. Ontogeny of Dimetrodon milleri (Eupelycosauria: Sphenacodontidae) and implications for taxonomy. In: Johnson, G.D. (ed.). 12th International Symposium on Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates. Ichthyolith Issues Special Publication 12:14.
Brink, K.S. and Reisz, R.R. 2011. A juvenile sphenacodontid with implications for ontogeny and evolutionary history of non-mammalian synapsids. Ontario Ethology, Ecology, and Evolution Colloquium, Scarborough, Ontario, p. 16.
Brink, K.S., D.K. Zelenitsky, D.C. Evans, J.R. Horner, F. Therrien. 2009. Ontogenetic Development of the Skull of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri. Fourth International Symposium on Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, Museum of the Rockies Occasional Paper 4.
Brink, K.S., Ruth Stockey, and Graham Beard. 2007. Permineralized Cunninghamia twigs and leaves from the upper Cretaceous of Hornby Island, British Columbia. Seventh British Columbia Paleontological Symposium Abstracts Volume, p. 21. Courtenay, British Columbia.
Invited lectures
Brink, K.S. and R.R. Reisz. Tissue-level analysis of ziphodont teeth in terrestrial animals. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Washington, DC. Anatomical Record Special Volume 299, p. 95. 2016.
Brink, K.S., R.R. Reisz, and J.M. Richman. Using advanced imaging modalities to unravel microstructural complexity in non-mammalian dentitions. Canadian Society of Zoology Annual Meeting, Comparative Morphology and Development Section Symposium. May 12, 2016.
Brink, K.S. Development of theropod dinosaur teeth. Third International ROM Palaeohistology Workshop, 2015.
Brink, K.S., Renfei Feng, Jason Maley, Ruth Hoffemyer, Tom Ellis, Don Brinkman, and Ramaswami Sammynaiken. Tracing the life of dinosaurs recorded in the microanatomy of tooth enamel. Synchrotron Applications in Non-Traditional Sciences Workshop, Annual Users Meeting, Canadian Light Source, May 1st, 2014.
Brink, K.S. Development of the ampulla in archosaur teeth. First International ROM Palaeohistology Workshop 2013.
Brink, K.S., Reisz, R.R. Ecology and evolutionary trends in Palaeozoic synapsids: What do the teeth tell us? Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Colloquium 2013.
Brink, K.S. Cranial crest growth of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri. Alberta Palaeontological Society, November 2009.
Poster presentations
Brink, K.S., T.M. Grieco, and J.M. Richman. 2018. Initiation and development of tooth size differences in the leopard gecko. Gordon Research Seminar and Conference, Barga, Italy, February 10–16 2018.
Brink, K.S., T.M. Grieco, and J.M. Richman. 2017. Embryonic odontogenesis in the leopard gecko reveals contributions to tooth size disparity. Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology 2nd Biennial Meeting, University of Calgary.
Brink, K.S., Grieco, T.M., and Richman, J.M. 2017. Egg Tooth Morphogenesis in the Leopard Gecko: A Model for Dental Size Variation. American Association of Anatomists Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2017. Poster Award Finalist. The FASEB Journal 31(1 Supplement): 902.909.
Brink, K.S. and J. Richman. 2016 Effects of disrupting the dental lamina and mandibular nerve on tooth replacement in the green iguana (Squamata: Iguana iguana): A reanalysis of historic radiograph data. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Washington, DC. Anatomical Record Special Volume 299, p. 95.
Brink, K.S.; Larson, D.W., Evans, D.C. Enamel microstructure in ornithocheirid pterosaurs. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2015, p. 96.
Brink, K.S.; Evans, D.C; Maddin, H.C; Reisz, R.R. Phylogenetic assessment of Bathygnathus borealis, a derived species of Dimetrodon from Canada. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts, 2014, p.97
Sammynaiken, R., Renfei Feng, Jason Maley, Ruth Hoffemyer, Kirstin Brink, Tom Ellis, Don Brinkman. Reading about the life of dinosaurs recorded on the enamel of teeth. Synchrotron radiation and neutrons in art and archaeology (SR2A-2014), Paris.
Brink, K.S. and Reisz, R.R. 2014. Hidden dental diversity in the oldest terrestrial apex predator Dimetrodon revealed through SEM and histology. University of Toronto Mississauga Research and Excellence Celebration, p. 1
Spindler, F., Kirstin Brink, and Graciela Piñeiro. 2013. An upgraded perspective to basal Sphenacodontia, the stem group of mammal-like amniotes. Paläontologische Gesellschaft, Faculty of Geosciences and Geography at the Georg-August University Göttingen.
Brink, K.S., Aaron R.H. LeBlanc, R.R. Reisz. 2013. A histological examination of tooth implantation in Early Permian non-mammalian synapsids. University of Toronto Mississauga Research and Excellence Celebration, p.3.
Brink, K.S., Aaron R.H. LeBlanc, P. Martin Sander, R.R. Reisz. Dental histology and tooth implantation in early Permian non-mammalian synapsids. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts, 2012, p.68.
Brink, K.S., Aaron R.H. LeBlanc, R.R. Reisz. 2012. Dental histology in the Early Permian sphenacodontids Dimetrodon and Sphenacodon. Canadian Paleontology Conference Proceedings number 10, abstracts volume p.17, Toronto, Ontario.
Brink, K.S., D. K. Zelenitsky, D. C. Evans, and F. Therrien. 2010. Affinities of lambeosaurine (Ornithischia: Hadrosauridae) embryos from Devil’s Coulee (Campanian), Alberta. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(Suppl. 3): 65A.
Brink, K.S., D. K. Zelenitsky, D. C. Evans, and J. R. Horner. 2009. Cranial crest growth of Hypacrosaurus stebingeri and an allometric analysis of North American lambeosaurines. Alberta Palaeontological Society, Thirteenth Annual Symposium, abstracts volume p.5, Calgary, Alberta.
Brink, K.S., D. K. Zelenitsky, D. C. Evans, and J. R. Horner. 2008. New sub-adult Hypacrosaurus stebingeri skulls and a comparative analysis of allometric crest growth in lambeosaurines. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(Suppl. 3):56A.
Brink, K.S., Ruth Stockey, and Graham Beard. 2008. Cretaceous Cunninghamia leaves and twigs from Vancouver Island. University of Alberta Paleontological Society, Second Biennial Symposium, Abstract Volume, p. 25. Edmonton, Alberta.
Brink, K.S., Ruth Stockey, and Graham Beard. 2007. Permineralized Cunninghamia twigs and leaves from the upper Cretaceous of Hornby Island, British Columbia. Alberta Palaeontological Society, eleventh annual symposium abstracts volume p.7. Calgary, Alberta.
Ellis, A., Kirstin Brink, Brian D.E. Chatterton, and Mark V.H. Wilson. 2006. Marine fauna from the Cretaceous of Morocco. University of Alberta Palaeontological Society first bi-annual symposium abstracts volume, p. 25. Edmonton, Alberta.