I Tatti Berenson Fellowship 2027–28

• Hold a PhD at the time of application.
• Provide a scan of their doctoral certificate.
• Be conducting research in a field supported by I Tatti.
• Propose a project connected to the fellowship's "Italy in the World" focus.
• Be able to carry out most of the proposed research in Florence.
• Be conversant in English.
• Have familiarity with Italian.
• Be able to devote the fellowship period exclusively to the proposed research project.

Applicants cannot be working on a second PhD at the time of application.

I Tatti gives priority to early- and mid-career scholars, although scholars from all career stages who satisfy the requirements may apply.

The Center welcomes applications from scholars of all nationalities and gives particular consideration to researchers who do not have regular access to research materials and facilities in Italy.

Applicants who have previously held an I Tatti appointment generally cannot apply for another term fellowship, except for applicants who previously held a Graduate Fellowship. Term fellowships also cannot be deferred. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Research Areas

The Berenson Fellowship is suitable for research in areas including:

• Art history
• Architecture
• Renaissance studies
• History
• Literature
• Philosophy
• Music
• History of science
• Material and visual culture
• Cultural exchange
• Mediterranean studies
• African-European historical relations
• Asian-European cultural exchange
• Latin American-European connections
• Other interdisciplinary humanities projects with a strong Renaissance focus

The most important requirement is the relationship between the proposed research and the Renaissance world, particularly the movement or interaction between Italy and other cultures.

What "Italy in the World" Means

Applicants should not simply propose a project about Italy during the Renaissance.

The Berenson Fellowship is specifically interested in the ways Italy interacted with other cultures.

A suitable project might investigate, for example:

• The movement of artistic ideas between Italy and another region.
• Italian cultural influence outside the Italian peninsula.
• Mediterranean networks involving Italian cities.
• Exchanges involving African, Asian or Latin American societies.
• The movement of books, manuscripts, artworks or scientific knowledge.
• Cross-cultural intellectual or commercial relationships.
• How Renaissance ideas were adapted or interpreted in another cultural setting.

The proposed research should therefore make its international or transnational dimension clear from the beginning.

Research Environment at I Tatti

Fellows are given time to concentrate on their projects with relatively few institutional obligations.

They have access to the Biblioteca Berenson and the wider resources of the Harvard Center. The library contains extensive materials relevant to Renaissance studies, including books, periodicals, photographs, digital images, manuscripts and recordings.

The fellowship is also designed to encourage intellectual exchange. Fellows are expected to participate in the wider activities of the Center, giving them opportunities to interact with other researchers working on related and contrasting areas of Renaissance scholarship.

Residence and Work Requirements

This is a residential fellowship.

Fellows must live in the Florence area and spend at least three days per week at I Tatti.

During the fellowship, Fellows cannot take on other obligations such as teaching positions, even on a part-time basis.

The fellowship also cannot normally be held at the same time as another fellowship or award.

Applicants receiving a partial salary or outside grant must disclose this to I Tatti and obtain permission where required. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Application Requirements

Applications can be written in English or Italian and are submitted electronically.

Applicants should be prepared to present a strong research project explaining:

• The central research question.
• The project's contribution to Renaissance scholarship.
• The international or cross-cultural dimension.
• The materials and sources that need to be consulted.
• Why research in Florence and at I Tatti is important for the project.
• The expected original contribution of the research.

Two scholars who know the applicant's work well must submit recommendation letters.

The applicant is responsible for registering the referees and making sure they understand the requirements and deadlines.

Application Timeline

• Application deadline: 16 November 2026
• Recommendation letter deadline: 21 November 2026
• Fellowship period: 2027–28
• Applicants indicate a preference for either the fall term (September–December) or winter-spring term (January–June).

The application deadline is midnight Cambridge, Massachusetts time on 16 November 2026. Recommendation letters have a later deadline of 21 November 2026. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Selection

Applications are evaluated by international scholars.

The selection process considers the strength of the proposed research project, its potential to produce original results, the applicant's curriculum vitae and the candidate's ability to contribute constructively to the intellectual community at I Tatti.

This means that a strong academic record alone is not enough. The proposed project needs to demonstrate why the research is significant and why I Tatti's resources and research environment are appropriate for carrying it out.

Applicant Tip

The strongest part of an application should be the research project itself.

Do not spend most of the proposal describing how prestigious Harvard or Florence is. Instead, show exactly what your research will investigate and why the project requires access to the resources available at I Tatti.

Pay particular attention to the transnational dimension.

If your project involves Italy and Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean or another region, explain what is being exchanged or connected: ideas, texts, artistic traditions, scientific knowledge, people, objects, institutions or intellectual networks.

Also explain what you expect to discover that existing scholarship has not adequately addressed.

Because I Tatti specifically looks for projects capable of producing original results, avoid presenting a project that simply repeats well-established scholarship.

Finally, contact your referees early. Their recommendations are due five days after the main application deadline, so waiting until the last minute could leave little time to resolve submission problems.

Important Financial Considerations

The fellowship provides a US$5,200 monthly grant and up to US$1,800 for relocation.

Housing assistance may also be available, but applicants should not assume that a rent-free apartment will automatically be provided. I Tatti states that an apartment may be available, and if one is not available, a housing subsidy may instead be offered.

Fellows are responsible for visa/residence requirements and health coverage.