Marlène and Paolo Fresco Fellowship

Application Deadline: February 29, 2024

The goal of the Marlène and Paolo Fresco Fellowship is to promote and encourage more research on the cultural contacts that took place between the Mediterranean region and the African continent between around 1250 and 1750. For the spring semester of 2025, it is a six-month residential fellowship (January-June).

Post-doctoral researchers working in disciplines such as art history, archeology, expressive cultural history, musicology, economic history, intellectual, political, and religious history, literature, and languages who are interested in studying African history are eligible for this grant. Advanced research projects that focus on the interactions between Italy and the African continent in the early modern era—which is historically defined as the 14th through the 17th centuries—will be given preference.

Qualifications:

• Scholars must have their PhDs in hand when they apply, and they will need to upload a scan of their certificate.
• They can’t be engaged in a second PhD project.
• Candidates must speak French, Italian, or English with ease.
• Those who are selected will have a strong foundation in African history as well as the global interactions that occurred there in the early modern era.
• Those who are awarded the fellowship will stay at I Tatti for six months in Florence, where they will have access to both local and regional resources (collections, museums, libraries, archives, and photo collections).
• It is required of the fellow to conduct original research on the subject for which they have been granted the fellowship.

Conditions:

• Thanks to a kind donation from Paolo Fresco, the award is USD 5,200 per month with a one-time supplement (up to USD 1,500) for moving costs.
• Fellows must reside in the Florence region and spend at least three days a week at the Center due to the residential character of the fellowship.
• If feasible, a rent-free apartment with utility costs will be reserved for the fellow’s use. In the event that an apartment is not available, a housing subsidy will be provided to assist with the expense of rent.

I Tatti will be the fellows’ home for six months, from January to June 2025. Fellows have access to the Biblioteca Berenson seven days a week and can have lunch with fellow Appointees Monday through Friday, among other advantages offered by the Harvard Center. Biblioteca Berenson offers fellows a designated workspace. Throughout the entirety of their fellowship, fellows are prohibited from taking on any additional responsibilities, including part-time teaching roles. The fellowship cannot be used in conjunction with another prize or fellowship.

It is the fellow’s responsibility to secure a visa, a room permit, health insurance, and—if necessary—to bring along family members. The fellow is responsible for determining if a visa is needed and, if so, obtaining one in advance of departure.

APPLICATION:

Applications must be submitted electronically by midnight (Cambridge, MA time) on February 29, 2024, and they must be written in either English or Italian. Each academic year, scholars are limited to applying to one kind of fellowship at I Tatti.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:

Applicants must have two scholars who know their work well submit recommendations online by March 4, 2024. These recommendations must be written in English, French, or Italian. In order to give your referees adequate time to submit letters of recommendation, click the reference tab and register them as early as possible.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Marlène and Paolo Fresco Fellowship