Undergrad Researcher Recognized by UT President 

December 13, 2025

Danielle Zaleski is The University of Texas at Austin President’s Student Employee of the Year. 

The award is often given to students excelling in administrative positions at UT, which make up most of the job opportunities available to undergraduates on the UT campus. Zaleski, however, was chosen based on her aptitude as an undergraduate researcher.  

For the past 2 ½ years, Zaleski has worked with Jackson School scientists to study the buildup of microplastics in local lakes. She is now continuing her research as a master’s student at the Jackson School. 

“She’s a real self-starter in terms of her science, and she is really good at it,” said Marcy Davis, one of Zaleski’s advisers and a research engineering scientist at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.   

The Jackson School has prioritized providing work opportunities for undergraduate students in research labs, providing payment on a par with other UT administrative positions. This has led to more than 100 undergraduate students at the Jackson School working in research positions as of Fall 2025. As Zaleski and her award show, this opportunity can open the door to excellent scientific contributions.  

“I’ve grown a lot more than I ever would have expected,” Zaleski said. “I am extremely appreciative of the resources provided by the school because I don’t think I ever would have sought out these kinds of experiences if they weren’t presented to me here.” 

Zaleski received the award from UT President Jim Davis in April 2025. She also received the undergraduate student research award at the Jackson School’s annual student research symposium.