To read about the group in residence in 2026–27, click here.
2027–28 Fellowships: APPLY HERE
DEADLINE: Friday, December 4, 2026
Columbia University's Italian Academy—a premier global center for advanced, interdisciplinary research—announces the Call for Applications for its 2027–28 Fellowship Program. We invite applications for:
- one Alexander Bodini Foundation Fellowship in Developmental and Adolescent Psychiatry
- one Alexander Bodini Foundation Fellowship in the Application of AI Tools and Models in the Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
- up to two Sidney J. Weinberg Jr. Foundation Fellowships in Architectural History and Preservation
and (as in past years) we welcome proposals outside these precise categories as well.
Candidates of any nationality are invited to apply; they may be postdoctoral researchers, or mid-career scholars, or senior scholars.
Fellows receive a full-time salary, health benefits, and an office in the Academy on the Columbia campus.
Each application must include a CV with a full list of publications, a copy of the PhD degree, a research proposal of no more than 1300 words, and two letters of recommendation (a third is optional).
Applicants must not have previously held a fellowship at the Italian Academy.
Candidates may apply for three fellowship periods:
- Fall 2027 (September 15, 2027–December 31, 2027), or
- Spring 2028 (January 15, 2028–April 30, 2028), or
- Full academic year/7.5 months (September 15, 2027–April 30, 2028)
Fellows will have a position as a full-time Columbia Officer of Research with a minimum annual salary in the following range: $74,279–$104,099.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Pay Transparency Disclosure
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
The application deadline is Friday, December 4, 2026 (11:59 pm, New York time).
If you wish to preview the complete set of questions in our application form, you can read this PDF: Sample questions on application form_2027-28 call.pdf
If you wish to spread the word about our call for applications, you can download a flyer here.
Frequently asked questions
What is your Fellowship Program?
The multi-disciplinary Fellowship Program is the heart of the work of the Italian Academy. Fellowships are open to scholars who wish to devote a semester or a full academic year to genuinely innovative work in the humanities, sciences, or social sciences. A willingness to discuss projects across epistemological boundaries is desirable and contributes to the interdisciplinary openness that has long been encouraged at the Academy. We welcome candidates from all countries, at the post-doctoral or faculty level. (A PhD is the minimum requirement.) Fellows receive a full-time salary, health benefits, and an office in our building on the Columbia campus.
Can I see the range of Fellows?
To read about all past and current Fellows, click here.
Do you have dedicated fellowships (within those areas of the humanities, sciences, and social sciences)?
Long-standing dedicated Fellowships at the Academy include the Alexander Bodini Foundation Fellowship in Developmental and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Sidney J. Weinberg Jr. Foundation Fellowships in Architectural History and Preservation as well as a program for Italian artists. Newer opportunities include the Alexander Bodini Foundation Fellowship in the Application of AI Tools and Models in the Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer.
How do I apply?
By using the digital online form at the top of this page.
What are the residency periods?
Candidates may apply for three fellowship periods:
- Fall 2027 (September 15, 2027–December 31, 2027), or
- Spring 2028 (January 15, 2028–April 30, 2028), or
- Full academic year/7.5 months (September 15, 2027–April 30, 2028)
What is the salary? What is the role?
Fellows will have a position as a full-time Columbia Officer of Research with a minimum annual salary in the following range: $74,279–$104,099.
I am a scientist; will I collaborate with Columbia laboratories &/or scientists?
A candidate in the sciences should contact a professor at Columbia to gauge their interest in the project before applying. Such candidates should note (in the application proposal) that they have a pledged collaboration.
What is the word limit for the proposal?
The Project Proposal should not exceed 1300 words (excluding references).
What if I’m just getting my Ph.D. degree?
Applicants who do not yet have a PhD are expected to obtain one by June 30, 2027.
Do you give us housing, or pay our rent?
No, but we assist our Fellows in applying for Columbia Housing when available.
What is the deadline for my application packet?
The deadline is December 4th.
What is the deadline for recommendation letters?
The deadline is December 14.
Do you accept projects and CVs in Italian?
All projects and CVs should be in English.
Do you accept recommendation letters in Italian?
Yes.
How are candidates assessed?
The selection of Fellows will be based on the quality of the applications. These will be reviewed by a faculty advisory committee.
What qualifications must I have?
Normally, Fellowships will be open to advanced scholars from the post-doctoral to the full professorial level. (Candidates must have their doctorates in hand no later than June 30, 2027.)
How long do Fellows stay?
Fellows will be expected to be in residence for one or two academic semesters. At the Academy, Fellows are offered a place where they can work, interact amongst themselves and with members of the Columbia community, and generally remain free from outside obligations and are not allowed to teach. For periods of either one or two academic semesters, the Academy provides office space.
Would I be in the Academy building daily?
Fellows are expected to be in residence for the duration of their stay at the Academy, although connections with other institutions of higher learning are encouraged. The weekly seminars are usually held on Wednesdays and Fellows' presence is requested. Absences of two days or more should be requested from the Director. Fellows may not hold concurrent fellowships and are expected to dedicate their time to research while in residence.
How and where must I acknowledge the Academy and its support?
Any publications born or developed during your Fellowship should carry explicit acknowledgement of the Academy’s support, as should any biographical notes published in connection with your talks/appearances while in residence.
How would you describe the residency?
Fellows appreciate the collegial atmosphere of the Academy's landmarked building: they work in their own spacious offices (with views across campus), and they often gather for coffee and conversation in our welcoming Library. Fellows are fully integrated into the intellectual and social life of Columbia.
Can I apply again after having been a Fellow before?
Former Fellows may not re-apply.
I am a Columbia University professor. Can I apply?
Columbia University professors are not eligible to apply.
I won a Fellowship, but I wish to delay to another semester/year—may I?
Given the large number of eminently qualified candidates for the Italian Academy Fellowships every year, candidates selected in any one year will not be allowed to postpone their offer of a Fellowship to another year. If the Fellowship is not taken up in the term of the year in which it is offered, it will be forfeited—although candidates who turned down an offer of a Fellowship in one year may of course apply for the Fellowship in another year. No guarantee of success, however, can be offered in such cases.
What documents do you need along with the digital online application form?
A CV with a full list of publications, a copy of the PhD degree, a research proposal of no more than 1300 words, and two letters of recommendation (a third is optional).