I Tatti–Dumbarton Oaks Joint Fellowship for Eastern Mediterranean Studies

Available to early- and mid-career scholars whose work explores cross-cultural contacts in and beyond the late medieval and early modern Mediterranean. Apply by November 1.

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I Tatti–The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies and Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection offer a joint, residential fellowship for the 2024–2025 academic year. Scholars will spend six months (July–December) as I Tatti Fellows and the spring term (January 21–May 9, 2025) as Dumbarton Oaks Fellows. 

The fellowship will focus on exchanges and interactions between Italy and territories of the East Christian world, widely conceived, encompassing Byzantium and the Post-Byzantine Greek world as well as North and East Africa, the Near East, the Caucasus, the Balkans, India, Russia, and contact zones between Eastern and Western Christianity. This collaboration aims to support early-career scholars whose work explores cross-cultural contacts in and beyond the late medieval and early modern Mediterranean through the study of art, architecture, archaeology, history, literature, material culture, music, philosophy, religion, or science. Preference will be given to projects that draw upon the history and cultural patrimony of Italy as well as that of the East Christian world.

Eligibility

The I Tatti-Dumbarton Oaks Joint Fellowship is offered for early- or mid-career scholars. At the time of application, scholars must have a PhD in hand and will be asked to upload a scan of the certificate. Candidates must be conversant in English and have at least a reading knowledge of Italian. Successful applicants will have a solid background in Italian Renaissance and/or Byzantine Studies. Each successful candidate must be approved by both Dumbarton Oaks and I Tatti. The fellowship term for I Tatti is from July to December, with residency in Florence required from September to December. The residential fellowship term for Dumbarton Oaks is January 21 to May 9, 2025. During each term, Fellows will utilize the resources available in the city where they are resident. Priority will be given to applicants with no previous association with I Tatti or Dumbarton Oaks. Renewals, repeats, or deferments of this Fellowship are not granted. Scholars can apply to only one type of fellowship at I Tatti and Dumbarton Oaks per academic year.

Terms and details relating to I Tatti

• Fellows may not take on any other obligations such as teaching positions, even part-time ones, during any part of their Fellowship period.
• This is a residential fellowship. Fellows must live in the Florence area from September through December, spend at least three days a week at the Harvard Center, and participate in and contribute to the activities at the Center. I Tatti’s fall term begins 1 September. As Fellows are not expected to be at the Villa until early September, we recommend they pursue research at sites in and outside of Florence during July and August.
• Fellows enjoy all the privileges of the Harvard Center, including use of the Biblioteca Berenson seven days a week and, from September 1 onward, lunch with other Appointees from Monday through Friday.
• Fellows are offered a reserved desk or carrel in the Biblioteca Berenson.
• The stipend is USD 5,200 per month for Fellows, plus a one-time supplement (maximum USD 1,500) towards relocation expenses. If an apartment is not available, a housing subsidy will be offered to help offset rental costs.
• The Fellow is responsible for obtaining a visa, permesso di soggiorno, and health coverage (and, if appropriate, for accompanying family members). The Fellow must determine if a visa is required and, if necessary, obtain one before travel.

Terms and details relating to Dumbarton Oaks

• Fellows may not take on any other obligations such as teaching positions, even part-time ones, during any part of their Fellowship period.
• This is a residential fellowship. Fellows must live in the Washington, DC area and are expected to conduct the majority of their research on campus, participate in scholarly activities, and become a member of the Dumbarton Oaks community.
• The Fellow will enjoy the privileges of a Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship, including a stipend of $17,500; on-campus housing (a housing allowance may be offered instead of housing if Dumbarton Oaks is unable to provide accommodations; successful applicants from the greater Washington metropolitan area will not be offered housing); lunch in the Refectory on weekdays; and a health insurance contribution from Dumbarton Oaks. The Fellow will also receive a one-time research stipend of $6,000.
• Dumbarton Oaks has partnered with a travel agency to arrange and pre-pay for fellows’ air or rail travel, in accordance with the Dumbarton Oaks Travel Policy. Reimbursement of J1 visa fees is also provided for Fellows, but not for dependents.
• For non-US citizens, Dumbarton Oaks provides J-1 visas for the term of the Fellowship appointment. Scholars who have been in the United States with J status within the past 12 months may not qualify for a Dumbarton Oaks J-1 visa unless they were in the United States for a total time of less than six months. These individuals and all other non-US citizens are strongly urged to check their prospective visa status for the requested period of the Fellowship prior to submitting an application.

Application

Applications must be written in English and must be submitted electronically by midnight (Cambridge, MA time) on November 1, 2023. (Please note this date; owing to the joint-nature of the fellowship, the deadline is earlier than all other I Tatti term-fellowships.) Scholars can apply to only one type of fellowship at I Tatti or Dumbarton Oaks per academic year.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must have two scholars who know their work well submit recommendations online by November 1, 2023. These recommendations must be written in English. In order to give your referees adequate time to submit letters of recommendation, click the Register Recommender tab in the application portal and register them as early as possible. Referees will receive an email explaining how to access the system and submit their letters electronically. It is the applicant's responsibility to inform the scholars writing on their behalf of the nature of the project and the deadline for submission.