Royal Alexander Brink (16 September 1897 – 2 October 1984), also known as R. A.
Brink was instrumental to the beginning of the Wisconsin maize breeding program during the 1920s.
His scientific achievements include the discovery of paramutation in maize and the study of transposons.
Brink was also very interested in agriculture, creating new varieties of clover and alfalfa during his career.
Brink is the subject of a posthumous biographical memoir by his fellow geneticists Oliver E. Nelson, Jr., and Ray D. Owen and published by the National Academy of Sciences.