Graduate Fellowship

a

GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

 

“This has been one of the most valuable and formative experiences of my life; I have learned and grown so much as a scholar. I am very grateful for having been given the chance to be a part of the lively and stimulating environment that was I Tatti.”

Sezen Unluonen, Graduate Fellow ’19

 

Each fall and spring semester, two Graduate Fellowships are available for Harvard PhD students.

The primary goal is to allow students working on their dissertation to pursue their studies with a minimum of obligations and interruptions together with a maximum of scholarly resources. Preference will be given to PhD candidates whose work relates to early modern Italy, including transnational connections between Italy and other cultures; the transmission and circulation of ideas, objects, and people during the Renaissance; and the historiography of the Italian Renaissance, including the rebirth of interest in the Renaissance in later periods.

Fellows are expected to live in the Florence area and to spend at least three days a week at the center, where they can make use of the Berenson Library’s rich collections. As one of the over seventy libraries that make up the Harvard Library system, the Biblioteca Berenson also provides access to a vast range of online journals and other electronic resources, and offers Fellows comprehensive interdisciplinary resources for the study of late medieval and early modern Italy.

I Tatti is a site for lively academic encounters and dynamic exchanges. Each year, a number of activities such as exploratory seminars, workshops, and tours of exhibitions and cultural institutions are organized for the Fellows. In addition, the center hosts conferences, lectures, and concerts which Graduate Fellows are encouraged to attend.

 

 

Eligibility

Applicants must be graduate students at Harvard University pursuing a PhD with a particular interest in the Italian Renaissance, broadly defined historically as the period ranging from the 14th to the 17th centuries and geographically to include transnational dialogues between Italy and other cultures (e.g. Latin American, Mediterranean, African, Asian etc.). Applications are also welcome from students who explore the historiography and impact of the Italian Renaissance in the Modern Era (19th-21st centuries). Students working in all the fields supported by I Tatti—architecture and the arts, history, philosophy, literature, music and history of science—are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have familiarity with Italian. Graduate Fellowships at I Tatti can be held only once, but former Graduate Fellows are warmly encouraged to apply for other fellowships.

 

Terms

The periods of residence are fall (September through December), and spring (January through June). Fall Fellows are welcome to come any time after July 1, but are required to arrive by September 1 and remain through at least December 20. Spring Fellows are required to arrive by January 2 and remain through June 30.  

The grant is $14,000 for Fall Fellows and $21,000 for Spring Fellows, plus a one-time supplement (maximum $1,500) towards relocation expenses. Graduate Fellows have their own library carrel or desk. In light of the residential nature of the fellowship Graduate Fellows must live in the Florence area and spend at least three days a week at the center. Housing is not provided. Fellows may not take on any obligations outside of I Tatti, even part-time ones, during any part of their Fellowship period. The I Tatti Graduate Fellowship may not be held concurrently with another major fellowship award, and applicants must disclose all supplementary funding, including funds awarded by Harvard’s schools.

Graduate Fellows enjoy all the privileges of the Harvard Center, including use of the Biblioteca Berenson seven days a week and lunch with other I Tatti Appointees from Monday through Friday. During their term in residence, Graduate Fellows give a short seminar presentation of their dissertation project to the other appointees. A short report will be requested at the end of the term. I Tatti offers a limited number of tours of the Villa, its artworks, and the garden to outside visitors, given by the Graduate Fellows on a rotating basis. In keeping with the educational mission of the institution, these tours provide Graduate Fellows with the opportunity to serve as spokesmen for the historic collections and grounds.

 

Application

Applications are due by midnight (Cambridge, MA time) on 2 February, 2024. Applicants will need a letter of nomination from their doctoral advisor. In order to give adequate time to submit a recommendation, click the reference tab and register your advisor as soon as possible. Recommendations are due by February 7, 2024. 

The application deadline for this fellowship has passed

Please note: the deadline for applications has now passed