Brian Atkinson

Dr. Brian Atkinson is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Curator of Paleobotany at the University of Kansas, specializing in the macroevolutionary patterns and relationships of seed plants. His research focuses on Mesozoic and Cenozoic conifers and flowering plants, particularly using fossil evidence to reconstruct evolutionary histories. He is affiliated with the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB), where he contributes to graduate education and oversees the Atkinson Lab.

Key research areas include the Cretaceous diversification of asterids, the evolution of cornalean fruits, and the paleobiogeography of conifers. His work frequently integrates anatomically preserved fossils with modern phylogenetic methods to address questions about plant diversification and extinction events. Recent projects explore the origins of dogwoods (Cornus) and the early radiation of the Meliaceae family.

Publications span over a decade, with notable contributions to American Journal of Botany, Annals of Botany, and International Journal of Plant Sciences. His research has expanded understanding of Gondwanan plant dispersal, Cretaceous-Paleogene floral transitions, and the macroevolutionary dynamics shaping modern plant diversity.

Dr. Atkinson collaborates with institutions globally, including the Royal Botanical Gardens and Hokkaido University, and maintains an active fossil collection at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute. His lab focuses on anatomical, morphological, and molecular approaches to paleobotanical research, with ongoing projects in Antarctica, North America, and Japan.