Berenson Fellowship 2027–2028 in Italy

The Berenson Fellowship is one of Villa I Tatti’s residential Term Fellowships and is supported by the Lila Wallace – Reader’s Digest Fund. Villa I Tatti is Harvard University’s Center for Italian Renaissance Studies, based in Florence, Italy.

The fellowship is specifically designed for scholars exploring “Italy in the World”. Proposed projects should investigate transnational dialogues between Italy and other cultures — including Mediterranean, African, Asian, Latin American and other contexts — during the Renaissance, broadly defined as the period from the 14th to the 17th centuries.

Relevant fields include architecture and the arts, history, philosophy, literature, music and history of science. The fellowship encourages research that places Renaissance Italy within wider international and intercultural networks rather than treating it in isolation.

Fellows spend either four months or six months in Florence. Applicants indicate a preference between the fall term, September–December, and the winter-spring term, January–June. Up to four Berenson Fellowships are awarded each year.

The programme is residential. Fellows must live in the Florence area and spend at least three days per week at I Tatti. They are expected to participate in the wider intellectual community through conferences, lectures, concerts and other scholarly activities.

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Hold a PhD at the time of application and upload a scan of the doctoral certificate.
• Not be working towards a second PhD when applying.
• Propose research relevant to the Berenson Fellowship’s “Italy in the World” focus.
• Work solely on the project for which the fellowship is awarded during the fellowship period.
• Be conversant in English.
• Have familiarity with Italian.
• Be able to conduct most of the proposed research in Florence.
• Be able to reside in the Florence area during the fellowship.
• Spend at least three days per week at I Tatti during residence.
• Not undertake another teaching position or professional obligation during the fellowship.
• Not hold the Berenson Fellowship concurrently with another fellowship or award.
• Apply for only one type of I Tatti fellowship during the same academic year.
• Normally have no previous I Tatti appointment, except that former Graduate Fellows may apply.

Applicants from all nationalities are welcome. Priority is given to early- and mid-career scholars, and I Tatti gives special consideration to candidates without regular access to research materials and facilities in Italy.

Successful Berenson Fellows receive:

• USD 5,200 per month.
• Fellowship funding for either 4 or 6 months.
• A one-time relocation supplement of up to USD 1,800.
• A rent-free I Tatti apartment when available.
• Housing subsidy when an I Tatti apartment is unavailable.
• Seven-day-a-week use of the Biblioteca Berenson.
• A dedicated desk or carrel within the library.
• Lunch with other I Tatti appointees from Monday to Friday.
• Access to Harvard Center scholarly resources.
• Participation in conferences, lectures, concerts and intellectual activities.
• Opportunity to work within an international community of Renaissance scholars.

For reference, the monthly grant totals approximately:

• 4 months: USD 20,800
• 6 months: USD 31,200

before the relocation supplement.

The official programme information confirms or indicates the following application materials:

• Completed electronic fellowship application.
• Scan of the applicant’s PhD certificate.
• Research project information/proposal relevant to the Berenson Fellowship theme.
• Curriculum vitae; the selection committee explicitly considers the applicant’s CV.
• Preferred fellowship term: fall or winter-spring.
• Disclosure of partial salary or outside grants, where applicable.
• Two academic recommendation letters from scholars familiar with the applicant’s work.

Applications may be prepared in English or Italian.

Recommendation letters may also be submitted in English or Italian and must be uploaded directly by the referees through the online system by 21 November 2026.

The international selection committee considers:

• Strength of the proposed research project.
• Potential of the project to produce original research results.
• Quality and relevance of the applicant’s curriculum vitae.
• Ability to contribute collegially to the intellectual life of I Tatti.
• Fit between the research project and the Berenson Fellowship’s “Italy in the World” focus.
• Feasibility of conducting most of the research in Florence.
• Applicant’s career stage, with priority given to early- and mid-career scholars.
• Access to research resources, with special consideration given to scholars without regular access to materials and facilities in Italy.

• Harvard academic environment: Conduct research at Harvard University’s Center for Italian Renaissance Studies.
• Dedicated research time: Spend four or six months focusing primarily on one research project.
• Florence-based research: Access libraries, collections and scholarly resources in one of the world’s major centres for Renaissance studies.
• Strong financial support: Receive USD 5,200 per month plus relocation and housing assistance.
• Biblioteca Berenson access: Use the library and its scholarly resources seven days a week.
• International research community: Work alongside scholars from different countries and disciplines.
• Interdisciplinary exposure: Engage with research spanning arts, history, philosophy, literature, music and science.
• Academic networking: Participate in I Tatti conferences, lectures and intellectual activities.