Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award

Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award in Engineering, Science and Technologies at the University of Naples Parthenope

Italy

Application Deadline
Monday, September 16, 2024
Award Code
25261-IT
Activity Type
Teaching/Research
A combination of teaching and research as described above. Refer to the award description for any specifications on percentages of time that should be devoted to teaching vs research.
Degree Requirements
Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) required
Career Profile
Mid-Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than seven, and less than 13, years.
Senior Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than 13 years.
Community College Faculty
Community College Faculty

Number of recipients

Exactly
1
Award Start Period
February 2026
Award Length
3 months or 4 months
Flex Option
No
Multi-Country/Area Award
No
Disciplines
Engineering
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Studies
Information Sciences/Systems
Computer Science
Scholars selected for this award will be required to
Advise and/or mentor students
Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses of the applicant’s choosing

In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities‎.

Award Activity

The overall workload of the Fulbright Scholar will consist of 48 hours of teaching, split between two modules:

i) 24 hours (3 hours per week) teaching to both undergrad and master students (up to 40 students);

ii) 24 hours lectures to Ph.D. students (up to 20 students).

Both modules will concern the areas of specialization of the candidate. Students have books, internet access, and laptops, but reading material by the Visiting Professor will be welcome.

The specific module contents, as well as the related syllabus, will be proposed by the selected candidate in accordance with the Fulbright Program Coordinator at Parthenope University of Naples.

Other grant activities:

The Scholar will have the opportunity to interact with the Ph.D. students of the University of Naples Parthenope.

The Scholar will be involved in the development of research activities at the hosting department of the University of Naples Parthenope.

The Scholar will conduct research activities in one or more of his/her specialization areas in collaboration with faculties of the hosting department of the University of Naples Parthenope.

Locations
Location Selection: Award is hosted by the institution listed below
Locations Detail

Department of Engineering https://ingegneria.uniparthenope.it/

Award Length and Period

Three or four months. Spring semester, starting dates are flexible. 

Areas of Interest

Civil and Environmental Engineering for the Mitigation of Risks; Computer Science, Biomedical and Telecommunications Engineering; Management Engineering

Civil Engineering and Engineering for the Safeguard of the Coastal Environment; Data and Communication Security Engineering; Engineering Management

Environment, Resources and Sustainable Development;  Environmental Phenomena and Risks; Energy Science and Engineering; 
Information and Communication Technology and Engineering. 

Special Features

The Department of Engineering has main teaching/research activities in the previously mentioned areas of interest. The selected candidate will interact with the faculties of the hosting department to perform joint research proposals, research projects, and publications. 

The University of Naples Parthenope is a State Research University in Naples, one of the most exciting cities in Italy. The University was founded in 1919 upon the request of Vice Admiral Leonardi Cattolica. Currently, the University’s system comprises four locations, mostly located in the city center and well connected by public transport: Headquarters, Pacanowski Palace, Centro Direzionale, and Villa Doria d’Angri. The main campus of the University is in the historical complex of the 16th century “Officine Della Real Fonderia,” close to the Maschio Angioino Castle (Castel Nuovo). Both the headquarters and the Pakanowski Palace are near Plebiscito Square and Toledo Street in the heart of the city.

The University of Naples Parthenope is well known for its institutional role of helping young students develop their talent, offering undergraduate and master’s degree programs across eight departments and colleges: Management and Quantitative Studies, Business and Economic Studies, Economic and Legal Studies, Law, Engineering, Science and Technology, Physical and Wellness Sciences and Economics, Law, Cybersecurity and Sport Sciences. Jointly, they led significant growth in the Institute, from about 1,000 students in 1985 to about 16,000 today. The University’s core aims are the promotion, development, direct application, enhancement, and use of knowledge to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of society. Throughout the approximately one hundred years since the University's foundation, its most profound and characterizing feature has remained unchanged: the ability to interact with the current social context and to continuously engage with its evolving demands.

All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).

Citizenship/Residency Requirement
Applicants residing in the award country at the time of application or thereafter are not eligible to apply for this award.
Permanent residents of the award country are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation should not be sought.
Language Proficiency Requirements
None, English is sufficient
Additional Language Requirement

Conversational Italian is helpful to better integrate in the local community, but it is not mandatory.

Additional Comments

Academic Calendar:

Fall Semester: 1st October-31st January – Exams in February
Spring Semester: 1st March-30 June – Exams in July

Courses taught by Fulbright scholars are shorter than regular core courses at an Italian university and scholars will be able to complete all academic activities during the award period.  

Award Allowances

Monthly stipend of €6,000 ($6,615) for a total of €24,000 ($26,462) for four months, €18,000 ($19,847) for three months. Amounts may change depending on exchange rate fluctuations. The award covers the entire period and is disbursed in Euro currency.

Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

International Travel Allowance of €1,100 ($1,204 the amount may change depending on exchange rate fluctuations). The allowance is disbursed in Euro currency.

Do you offer additional dependent benefits
No
Estimated Cost of Living

Naples: 

Housing: €1000-€2000 per month ($1.102-$2.194 approx) 
Daily meals: €20-€30 ($22-$33 approx) 
Single bus or metro ticket: €1.50 ($1.65 approx) 

As a rule, large cities in the North and the Center of Italy are more expensive, while living in the South is less costly, even in larger cities. An average monthly budget for two persons could range between €1.400-€2.500 ($1.533-$2.737 approx.). Rent is usually the major expense, ranging between €600-€1.500 ($657-$1.642 approx.). Individuals’ lifestyles, and choosing to live downtown or on the outskirts of a city can make a difference. The following websites could help navigate the costs of living in Italy. While none of them is sponsored by official institutions, the information is provided mostly by international visitors themselves and ex-pats: 

https://wise.com/gb/blog/cost-of-living-in-italyhttps://internationalliving.com/countries/italy/cost-of-living-in-italy/https://www.mondayfeelings.com/cost-to-live-in-italy/https://www.internationalcitizens.com/living-abroad/costs/italy.phphttps://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Italyhttps://www.forextradingitalia.it/costo-della-vita/italia.html

Special Award Benefits

The University of Naples Parthenope cannot provide free housing but will help the Scholar to find suitable accommodation. 

The Department of Engineering will provide the Scholar with office space and facilities (a desk, IT equipment, phone, internet access, personal internet account, access to university databases, etc.).

The EU and International Research Project Office at the University of Naples Parthenope are available to support the Scholar with any additional needs related to accommodation, bureaucracy, language courses, and other local resources at both University and city levels.

Several cultural events are organized by the University as well as by the city administration and cultural institutions. Most of them are free and the University will keep the Scholar informed about their calendar and other details.

The Fulbright Scholar will be eligible for the Fulbright Inter-country Travel Grant Program, http://www.fulbright.it/fulbright-intercountry/, and to receive a travel grant to lecture, hold workshops, and conduct other relevant outreach activity at other Italian and European academic institutions.

Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Italy

What is life like for Fulbrighters in your country?

To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Italy for 2024-25, please view our archived webinar and slides to hear directly from the Fulbright Commission, IIE staff, and U.S. Scholar alums regarding award details, the scholar experience, and application guidance.

The program in Italy is open to scholars and professionals from all disciplines; preferences are indicated under individual award descriptions. Scholars may be invited to give occasional lectures or seminars at various Italian universities. Some of the awards offer free housing (paid for by the host institution), or a financial contribution to offset housing costs.

Preference for candidates who have not already had substantial experience (5 years or more) studying or teaching in an Italian university.

The academic calendar, which is usually divided into two semesters, is generally October to June. However, dates may vary depending on the university.

Entry Visas to Italy: Selected grantees must enter Italy on a study or, in some cases, a research visa covering the authorized length of the grant. Information about the two visas and their application process is available on the Italy Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The possibility of staying for longer periods and/or being accompanied by dependents is subject to the provisions and restrictions of Italian Law. Italian embassy and consulates are the sole authorities in matters pertaining to visa issues.

Basic Visa Information: U.S. grantees must apply for a Study Visa (D) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction in the State where they reside. The Commission will support their application with a letter that will be sent to grantees after they have signed the official grant authorization but will not be able to assist grantees in their application procedures.

Due to restrictions in the Italian Immigration Law, there are potential challenges related to the duration of grantee stay in Italy, and the visa and permit-to-stay for their dependents.

The requested duration of the grantee's stay in Italy should not be much longer than the official grant period.  In case of significant discrepancy (more than 30 days overall), the Consulate may reject the grantee's visa request.

Grantees who wish to be accompanied to Italy by their family dependents should be aware that the Commission cannot sponsor their dependents’ visas. Available options are:

1.              Dependents may stay in Italy without a visa for 90 days

2.              Dependents may enroll in an Italian language course and apply for their study visa (the Commission cannot assist in identifying the course, nor does it have the funding to allocate for this purpose)

3.              Dependents could apply for a Ricongiungimento Familiare. The procedure entails that grantees travel to Italy on their own and once they arrive in Italy they must request a nulla osta per il ricongiungimento familiare. The nulla osta will be issued within 180 days from the request, which may exceed their grant length. Only then will dependents be able to travel to Italy to join the grantee and to apply for a permit to stay for ricongiungimento familiare.

Enrichment activity during your stay: Each June, the U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission hosts a meeting where U.S. grantees returning to the States after their grant and Italian grantees departing to begin their grant meet, interact, network, and often start relationships that continue in the United States.  The Meeting--a celebration of the Fulbright experience--is held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United States.  Italian alumni are also invited to participate in the day's activities.  

HELPFUL LINKS

A listing of Italian universities and access to their homepages can be found at   A valuable search engine can be found at  https://cercauniversita.cineca.it/ https://www.universitaly.it/ 

Useful links with information about the Italian academic system can be found at   and the MIUR website.  https://www.cimea.it/EN/ 

To view more about life in Italy, visit here: https://madeinitaly.gov.it/en/

For further information on the awards, contact Barbara Pizzella, Senior Program Officer at the Commission, at bpizzella@fulbright.it, and Chiara Petrilli, Program Officer, at cpetrilli@fulbright.it.

 

Fulbright Italy Alumni Meeting September 30, 2019, at Museum MAXXI in Rome

Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.