I Tatti–The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies and Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection offer a joint, residential fellowship for the 2025–2026 academic year. Scholars will spend the fall semester (July 18, 2025 - January 18, 2026) as I Tatti Fellows and the spring term (January 20–May 8, 2026) 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 mid-July 2025 – mid-January 2026, with residency in Florence required from 1 September 2025 to 18 January 2026. The residential fellowship term for Dumbarton Oaks is January 20 to May 8, 2026. 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 Villa 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.
• 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.
• 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.