Bertrand Van Ruymbeke

Bertrand Van Ruymbeke is a Professor of American Civilization at the University of Paris 8, specializing in the American Revolution, Franco-American relations, and Huguenot migration. He coordinates the ANR-funded America 2026 project (2023-2027), commemorating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. A member of institutions including the American Philosophical Society and the Institut Universitaire de France (2015-2020), he holds the title of Knight of the Order of Academic Palms.

Education: PhD from La Sorbonne-Nouvelle (1995), Habilitation à diriger des recherches from Université de Versailles (2003). Visiting positions include Stanford University (Fulbright Scholar), Brown University, and the American Philosophical Society.

Research focuses on colonial America, 18th-century transatlantic networks, and the cultural legacy of the American Revolution. He has published extensively on topics like Huguenot diaspora, early modern empires, and revolutionary historiography.

Grants and leadership: National Council of Universities member (2019-2023), Scientific Council of the Omohundro Institute, and steering committee member at the David Center for the American Revolution. Supervised 9 doctoral theses and served on 31 thesis juries.

Labs/Initiatives: Co-founder of the Journal of Early American History (Brill) and editor of the Early American History Series. Leads the transnational America 2026 research consortium uniting French, European, and U.S. scholars.