The Van Woudenberg Dissertation Prize is awarded once every two years by the Friends of the KNIR to a researcher who recently obtained his or her PhD and has used a stay at the KNIR in an inspiring way for his or her PhD research. This biennial prize was made possible by a generous bequest from Gerda van Woudenberg, translator and lecturer in Dutch language and literature at the University of Rome La Sapienza. The prize is intended for an exceptional or remarkable dissertation in the field of Italian studies and consists of a cash prize of €2,500, of which €1,000 can be used at will. The rest of the amount (€1,500) is intended to organize a workshop at the KNIR, either on the topic of the dissertation or on further research; or can be used for a research stay at the KNIR in preparation of a postdoctoral project; all this, of course, in consultation with the staff members of the KNIR.
Previous Laureates
2022 Dr. Anna-Luna Post, ‘Claiming Fame for Galileo: Reputation and Scholarly Credibility in Early Modern Italy’ (Universiteit Utrecht, 2020).
2020 Dr. Dina Titan, ‘The origins of instrumental diminution in Renaissance Venice: Ganassi’s Fontegara’ (Universiteit Utrecht, 2019).
2018 Dr. Anne Huijbers, ‘Zealots for Souls. Dominican Narratives of Self-Understanding during Observant Reforms, c. 1388–1517’ (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 2017).
2016 Dr. Eva Mol, ‘Egypt in material and mind. The use and perception of Aegyptiaca in Roman domestic contexts of Pompeii’ (Universiteit Leiden, 2015).
2014 Dr. Han Lamers, ‘Reinventing the Ancient Greeks: The self-representation of Byzantine scholars in Renaissance Italy’ (Universiteit Leiden, 2013).
The next deadline is TBA