Romeyne Robert and Uguccione Sorbello Fellowship 2026

The official call makes clear that these examples are not exhaustive. Applicants may propose other research topics where there is a strong connection to the historical, political, economic or cultural relationship between Italy and the United States.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should carefully review the current fellowship announcement before applying.

In general, applicants must:

1. Be researchers of any nationality.

2. Hold a doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education in one of the relevant fields, including social sciences, economics, humanities or fine arts.

3. Applicants who do not fit the standard doctoral-degree requirement may be considered where they can demonstrate equivalent professional experience, according to the fellowship conditions.

4. Have a research project directly relevant to the fellowship's objectives, particularly the study of Italy–U.S. relations or cultural exchange.

5. Demonstrate scholarly quality and originality in the proposed research.

6. Show that the proposed research can produce an original scholarly contribution, such as an academic essay, book chapter or book-length manuscript.

7. Provide evidence of an appropriate research background for the proposed project.

8. Submit the required application materials before the stated deadline.

9. Demonstrate the feasibility of completing the proposed research with the support provided by the fellowship grant.

The selection committee particularly welcomes applications from postdoctoral researchers and early-career scholars developing innovative and impactful research in U.S.–Italy studies.

Who Is This Fellowship For?

The fellowship is particularly relevant to researchers who have already completed doctoral-level training and are developing independent research projects concerning Italy and the United States.

Potential applicants may include researchers working in:

• History
• Political Science
• International Relations
• Economics
• Sociology
• Cultural Studies
• Italian Studies
• American Studies
• Literary Studies
• Art History
• Fine Arts
• Education
• Women's Studies
• Migration and Diaspora Studies
• Other related humanities and social science disciplines

The central consideration is not simply the applicant's academic discipline but whether the proposed research has a meaningful connection to the fellowship's focus on Italy–U.S. relations and cultural exchange.

Fellowship Benefits

The selected fellow will receive:

1. Research support of up to $10,000.

2. Financial support for the development of the approved research project.

3. Opportunity to advance original scholarly work concerning Italy–U.S. relations.

4. International academic exposure through a fellowship connected with institutions in Italy and the United States.

5. Opportunity to develop scholarly networks involving researchers working in Italian-American and transatlantic studies.

6. Potential opportunities for academic collaboration through the fellowship's network of partner institutions.

7. Support for producing a substantial scholarly output, such as an academic article, book chapter or book-length manuscript.

The grant is therefore particularly useful for researchers who have a defined scholarly project and need financial support to develop that work into a significant academic publication.

Expected Research Output

An important feature of this fellowship is that the research supported by the grant should result in original scholarship.

Possible outputs include:

• Academic journal article
• Book chapter
• Book-length manuscript
• Other substantial scholarly work consistent with the fellowship objectives

The John D. Calandra Italian American Institute retains first rights of acceptance for potential publication of the resulting work.

Applicants should therefore think carefully about the eventual scholarly contribution of their project when preparing the proposal.

Research Themes in Greater Detail

1. Italy–U.S. Political Relations

Projects may examine historical or contemporary political relationships between Italy and the United States, including diplomatic connections, political institutions, transatlantic networks and individuals involved in bilateral relations.

2. Social and Economic Relations

Research may explore economic relationships, migration, communities, institutions and social networks that have shaped connections between the two countries.

3. Cultural Diplomacy

Projects may investigate how cultural activities have been used to develop relationships between Italy and the United States, including programmes promoting Italian culture and language.

4. Italian Language and Culture in the United States

Applicants may examine the development and promotion of Italian language, literature and cultural traditions in the United States.

5. Literary and Artistic Exchange

Research can focus on the movement of literary works, artists, writers, artistic ideas and cultural practices between Italy and the United States.

6. Women's Entrepreneurship and Education

The fellowship specifically identifies research concerning women's entrepreneurship and women's empowerment through education as an area of interest.

7. Institutions and Individuals

Projects may examine the institutions, organisations, communities and individuals that have acted as bridges between Italy and the United States.

Application Documents

According to the current fellowship announcement, applicants should prepare:

1. Resume or academic CV, limited to one or two pages.

2. Cover letter explaining the applicant's interest in the fellowship, how the grant will support current studies or future plans, and the skills the applicant would bring to the fellowship.

3. Project description, including a clear description of the proposed research and a timeline.

4. Budget of projected expenses, explaining how the requested support would be used.

5. Separate short statement explaining the applicant's academic status.

6. Work sample demonstrating the applicant's proficiency as a writer, researcher and/or communicator.

Applicants should ensure that their documents address the requirements in the current call rather than relying on application requirements from previous years.

How to Prepare a Strong Research Proposal

The research proposal should make a clear connection between the proposed project and the purpose of the fellowship.

Applicants should explain:

1. What is the research question?

Clearly identify the central problem or question that the project will investigate.

2. Why is the research important?

Explain the academic significance of the topic and what gap or issue the project addresses.

3. How does it relate to Italy and the United States?

The connection to U.S.–Italy relations or cultural exchange should be explicit rather than incidental.

4. What is original about the project?

Explain what new evidence, interpretation, perspective or contribution the research will provide.

5. What will the fellowship support?

Show how the grant will enable specific research activities and contribute to completion of the project.

6. What will the final scholarly output be?

Identify whether the research is intended to result in an article, book chapter, book-length manuscript or another appropriate scholarly contribution.

Application Process

Step 1: Review the Current Fellowship Announcement

Applicants should read the official 2026 fellowship announcement carefully before preparing their application.

Step 2: Confirm Eligibility

Check that you satisfy the doctoral-degree or equivalent-experience requirement and that your research falls within the fellowship's scope.

Step 3: Develop the Research Project

Prepare a focused research project addressing an aspect of Italy–U.S. political, historical, economic or cultural relations or another clearly related theme.

Step 4: Prepare the Project Timeline

Explain how the proposed research will progress and what activities will be undertaken during the fellowship period.

Step 5: Prepare the Budget

Provide a realistic breakdown of projected research expenses and explain how the fellowship grant will support the project.

Step 6: Prepare the Supporting Materials

Complete the CV, cover letter, academic-status statement and work sample according to the requirements.

Step 7: Submit the Application

Send the complete application according to the instructions provided by the Sorbello Foundation before the deadline.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed by the Romeyne Robert and Uguccione Sorbello Fellowship Grant Selection Committee.

The selection process considers the overall quality and relevance of the proposed research.

Important considerations include:

• Scholarly merit
• Originality of the proposed research
• Relevance to Italy–U.S. relations
• Relevance to cultural exchange
• Quality of the research project
• Feasibility of the proposed work
• Potential contribution to scholarship
• Applicant's research and writing ability
• Quality of the proposed scholarly output

The committee particularly welcomes applications from postdoctoral researchers and early-career scholars whose projects demonstrate innovation and potential impact within U.S.–Italy studies.

Funding

The fellowship provides up to $10,000 in research support.

Applicants should provide a projected budget explaining how the requested funds will contribute to the proposed research.

The grant should therefore be viewed primarily as research support, rather than a conventional tuition scholarship or monthly living stipend.

Application Deadline

12 October 2026

The current official Sorbello Foundation announcement lists October 12, 2026 as the deadline for applications.

Applicants should submit all required materials before the deadline and should not wait until the final day to prepare their documents.

Important Information for Applicants

Researchers of any nationality may apply. However, applicants must still satisfy the academic and research requirements of the fellowship.

A PhD is normally required. The current call specifies a doctoral degree in social sciences, economics, humanities or fine arts, or equivalent professional experience.

This is a research fellowship, not a degree scholarship. Applicants should already have a research project that can be developed through the grant.

The project must have a meaningful Italy–U.S. connection. A project that only happens to involve Italy or the United States without addressing their relationship or cultural exchange may not fit the fellowship's purpose.

Original scholarly work is expected. The funded research should result in an academic contribution such as an article, book chapter or book-length manuscript.

The grant is up to $10,000. Applicants should therefore provide a clear and realistic budget showing how the funds will be used.

Postdoctoral and early-career researchers are particularly encouraged to apply. The selection committee specifically welcomes applications from researchers at these stages.

Why This Fellowship May Be Relevant to Researchers Outside Italy and the United States

Although the fellowship focuses on Italy–U.S. relations, applicants do not have to be Italian or American.

The international eligibility provision means that researchers from other countries can develop projects examining the broader networks and exchanges connecting Italy and the United States.

For example, a researcher could potentially examine a transatlantic topic involving migration, cultural exchange, education, literature, international institutions or other forms of interaction, provided that the proposed research has a clear and substantial connection to the fellowship's stated themes.

Applicants should make that connection explicit in the project description rather than assuming that international eligibility means every research topic is eligible.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare the required materials and submit their application according to the instructions provided by the Romeyne Robert and Uguccione Sorbello Foundation.

The application should include the required CV, cover letter, research project description and timeline, projected budget, academic-status statement and work sample.