In his autobiography, Trinkaus expressed that he considered himself privileged to have had a successful career as an embryologist, pursuing his passion for scientific observation and discovery throughout his life, meeting other wonderful scientists, and travelling the world. He loved to trace his intellectual genealogy back to the great nineteenth century comparative anatomist, Georges Cuvier, claiming “Like many, if I stand taller, it is not only because I stand on the toes of my competitors, but principally because I stand on the shoulders of giants, my renowned scientific ancestors” (Trinkaus 2003, 260).
Trinkaus’s work was recognized in 1995, when he was awarded the first Edwin G. Conklin Medal by the Society for Developmental Biology for his excellent research contributions to the field of developmental biology. In May 1988, the MBL hosted “Trinkfest,” a Festschrift, or retirement party, on the year of his seventieth birthday, which coincided with the centennial celebration of the MBL. However, Trinkaus continued to visit the MBL and conduct research well into his 80s. Trinkaus died on 8 February 2003.
- Atz, James W. "Fundulus heteroclitus in the laboratory: a history." American zoologist 26, no. 1 (1986): 111-120.
- Betchaku, Teiichi, and J. P. Trinkaus. “Programmed endocytosis during epiboly of Fundulus heteroclitus.” American zoologist 26, no. 1 (1986): 193-199.
- Davis, Edward M., and J. P. Trinkaus. "Significance of cell-to-cell contacts for the directional movement of neural crest cells within a hydrated collagen lattice." Journal of embryology and experimental morphology 63, no. 1 (1981): 29-51.
- DuPont, Ellen M. "John Philip Trinkaus (1918-2003)." Embryo Project Encyclopedia (2012).
- Goodrich, H. B., and J. P. Trinkaus. "The differential effect of radiations on mendelian phenotypes of the goldfish, Carassius auratus." The Biological Bulletin 77, no. 2 (1939): 192-199.
- Goodrich, H. B., and J. P. Trinkaus. "The differential effect of radiations on mendelian phenotypes of the goldfish, Carassius auratus." The Biological Bulletin 77, no. 2 (1939): 192-199.
- Goodrich, H. B., N. D. Josephson, J. P. Trinkaus, and Jeanne M. Slate. "The cellular expression and genetics of two new genes in Lebistes reticulatus." Genetics 29, no. 6 (1944): 584-592.
- Keller, Ray, Wallis H. Clark, and Frederick Griffin (Eds.) Gastrulation: Movements, Patterns, and Molecules. New York: Plenum Press, 1991.
- Kimmel, Charles B., and James A. Weston. "An overview of Trink's scientific accomplishments." Developmental Dynamics 228, no. 4 (2003): 586-587.
- Saunders, John W. "Trink, the man." Developmental Dynamics 228, no. 4 (2003): 588-590
- Schoenwolf, Gary C. "Trink: His life, his philosophy." Developmental Dynamics 228, no. 4 (2003): 591-593.
- Tickle, Cheryll A., and J. P. Trinkaus. "Change in surface extensibility of Fundulus deep cells during early development." Journal of cell science 13, no. 3 (1973): 721-726.
- Tickle, Cheryll A, and J. P. Trinkaus. "Observations on nudging cells in culture." Nature 261, no. 5559 (1976): 413-413.
- Trinkaus, J. Philip. "Factors concerned in the response of melanoblasts to estrogen in the Brown Leghorn fowl." Journal of Experimental Zoology 109, no. 1 (1948): 135-169.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. "The surface gel layer of Fundulus eggs in relation to epiboly." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 35, no. 4 (1949): 218.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. "A study of the mechanism of epiboly in the egg of Fundulus heteroclitus." Journal of Experimental Zoology 118, no. 2 (1951): 269-319.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. "The differentiation of tissue cells." American Naturalist (1956): 273-289.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. “Procurement, maintenance and use of Fundulus eggs,” Methods in Developmental Biology. F.H. Wells and N.K. Wessells (Eds.) Crowell, New York: 1967, 113-122.
- Trinkaus, J. P. "The cellular basis of Fundulus epiboly. Adhesivity of blastula and gastrula cells in culture." Developmental biology 7 (1963): 513-532.
- Trinkaus, J. P. "Surface activity and locomotion of Fundulus deep cells during blastula and gastrula stages." Developmental biology 30, no. 1 (1973): 68-103.
- Trinkaus, J. P. "Mechanism of Fundulus epiboly—a current view." America n Zoologist 24, no. 3 (1984): 673-688.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. Cells into organs: the forces that shape the embryo. (2nd Ed.) New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1984.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. “Directional cell movement during early development of the teleost Blennius Pholis. I. Formation of epithelial cell clusters and their pattern and mechanism of movement.” Journal of Experimental Zoology 245 (1988a): 157-186.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. “Directional cell movement during early development of the teleost Blennius Pholis. II. Transformation of the cells of epithelial clusters into dendritic melanocytes, their dissociation from each other, and their migration to and invasion of the pectoral fin buds.” Journal of Experimental Zoology 248 (1988b): 55-72.
- Trinkaus, John Philip. Embryologist: My Eight Decades in Developmental Biology. J&S Publishing Company, 2003
