Mellon Fellowship in the Digital Humanities

Description

This fellowship aims to support the work of scholars in the humanities or social sciences, librarians, archivists, and data science professionals whose research interests or practice cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries and actively employ technology in their work. Projects can address any aspect of the Italian Renaissance, broadly understood historically to include the period from the 14th to the 17th century, and geographically to include transnational dialogues between Italy and other cultures (e.g. Latin American, Mediterranean, African, Asian etc.). Projects should apply digital technologies such as mapping, textual analysis, visualization, or the semantic web to topics in fields such as art and architecture, history, literature, material culture, music, philosophy, religion, and history of science.


This is a residential fellowship of 4 or 6 months in length that will provide the time, space, and resources necessary to discover, explore, and build. Up to two fellowships will be awarded every year.

Eligibility

A PhD is required for scholars in the humanities and social sciences; in exceptional cases, applications from advanced PhD (ABD) students will be considered. A Master’s degree is required for librarians, archivists, and data science professionals. A background in programming, library sciences, computer graphics, computational linguistics, or other fields relevant to digital humanities research is highly desirable. Candidates should possess the technical skills to carry out their project at the time of application. The selection committee aims to assess the ability of candidates to contribute in a collegial way to the intellectual life of the Harvard Center. Short-term Fellowships at I Tatti can be held only once and cannot be deferred. Short-term Fellowships are intended for scholars who have not previously held appointments at I Tatti (with the exception of Graduate Fellows).

Terms

The stipend is $4,000 per month, plus a one-time supplement (maximum, $1,500) towards relocation expenses. When possible, a one-bedroom apartment will be set aside for the Fellow’s use, rent free, but with charges for utilities. If an apartment is not available, $1000 per month will be offered to help offset rental costs. The Fellowships are funded by a generous grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Applicants should indicate their preference between fall (September through December) and winter-spring (January through June). Fellows are required to spend at least three days a week at the Villa and to live in Florence or the surrounding area. Fellows enjoy all the privileges of the Harvard Center, including use of the Biblioteca Berenson seven days a week and lunch with other Appointees from Monday through Friday. Short-term Fellows do not receive an office or study, but they will have their own desk or carrel in the Library itself. Fellows may not take on any other obligations such as teaching positions, even part-time ones, during any part of their Fellowship period. The Fellow is responsible to obtain 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.

Application

Applications can be written in English or Italian and must submitted electronically by midnight on December 14, 2015. Scholars can apply to only one type of I Tatti Fellowship at a time. 

In order to give your referees adequate time to submit letters of recommendation, click the reference tab and register them as early as possible. Referees will receive an email requesting letters, written in English or Italian. These must be submitted electronically by December 14.