Gabriel Trujillo Memorial Fieldwork Scholarship

Headshot of Gabriel Trujillo.

A photo of Gabriel Trujillo, courtesy of the Fine Lab.

Established in 2024, the Gabriel Trujillo Field Work Scholarship at UC Berkeley was created by the Graduate Assembly. In June 2023, Gabriel Trujillo (Nahua and Opata), a doctoral student in Integrative Biology, was tragically murdered while conducting field research in Sonora, Mexico. Gabriel was a beloved member of the University of California, Berkeley graduate student community, and his loss will be deeply mourned by many for years to come. The purpose of this scholarship is to preserve Gabriel’s legacy, honoring Indigenous field work and stewardship.

Note: applications for the 2024 Gabriel Trujillo Field Work Scholarship closed on May 24, 2024.

The Graduate Assembly is offering one annual scholarship of $6,000 to support a graduate student conducting field work in Indigenous survivance, Indigenous land and ecosystem stewardship, and/or botany. The scholarship funds may be used for any of the following expenses:

  • Graduate student field work stipend 
  • Undergraduate student or research assistant stipend
  • Community partner stipend (only up to $3,000 of the $6,000 can be allotted for this)
  • Field work food, supplies, and equipment 
  • Field work travel expenses, including but not limited to flights, lodging, fuel, and vehicle rentals 
  • Field work insurance 

Applicants will be required to either have a field safety plan or draft one if awarded the funds. To apply, complete this application by May 24, 2024. Please email president-ga@berkeley.edu with questions.


Previous Gabriel Trujillo Memorial Fieldwork Scholarship Recipients

2024 Winners

Tvetene Carlson

Tvetene Carlson, Ahtna Athabaskan, from the Native Village of Cantwell, Alaska, earned his Civil Engineering degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2018 and is now pursuing a PhD in environmental engineering, focusing on tidal renewable energy for a Just Transition. He collaborates with the Metlakatla Indian Community, learning from Indigenous Knowledge keepers about how subsistence will be integrated into the renewable energy shift. His work honors Alaska Native subsistence practices, which are deeply tied to the land. Support from the Gabriel Trujillo Memorial Scholarship will enable Tvetene to continue building relationships and accountability with Metlakatla community experts.


Nathan Anthony Tilton

Nathan Anthony Tilton, MA (he/him), identifies as a service dog handler, chair user, neurodivergent, and disabled veteran. He serves as the Associate Director at UC Berkeley’s Disability Lab and is a PhD student in Cultural Anthropology. His research interests include disability anthropology, veteran health, critical disability studies, postcolonial studies, crip time, and military ecologies. Nate’s work focuses on the ways in which institutions disable people, with a particular emphasis on the environmental and health impacts of former and current US military bases in the Philippines and Guam. His research highlights the experiences and counternarratives of Indigenous and local communities, aligning with Gabriel Trujillo’s legacy of honoring Indigenous stewardship and fieldwork. By documenting the lasting effects of militarization on these communities, Nate seeks to empower those often marginalized in academic discourse, continuing Gabriel’s commitment to uplifting Indigenous perspectives.