Justin Rivest

Justin Rivest is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Kenyon College, specializing in early modern France, the history of science, and the history of medicine. He joined the department in fall 2021, bringing expertise in the development of pharmaceutical monopolies and the standardization of drugs in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Education:

• PhD in the History of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University (2016)
• MA in History, Carleton University (2010)
• BHum in Humanities, Carleton University (2008)

His research centers on the early modern pharmaceutical industry, particularly how royal monopoly privileges laid the groundwork for modern drug patents. He investigates how standardized medicines were distributed to large institutions like the French military, navy, and missionary societies between 1670 and 1750. His teaching reflects his interdisciplinary interests, covering early modern Europe, the French Revolution, and the roles of alchemy, astrology, and magic in scientific thought.

His publications appear in leading journals such as the Bulletin of the History of Medicine, Ambix, The Canadian Journal of History, and the New England Journal of Medicine. The articles show a consistent focus on the intersections of science, commerce, and state power in early modern Europe, particularly in France. Themes include drug regulation, medical entrepreneurship, and the transformation of alchemical practices into scientific medicine.

Scientific Awards:

• Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, Faculty of History, University of Cambridge

Justin Rivest has advised graduate and undergraduate students in historical research, particularly in the areas of medical history and early modern science. His work has been supported by fellowships and research grants, including his Leverhulme Fellowship at Clare Hall, Cambridge. He continues to develop his book project on early pharmaceutical monopolists and their impact on public health infrastructure.

He was previously a research fellow at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, and his academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both humanities and medical history, bridging cultural, scientific, and institutional perspectives.