Student Researcher Perseveres, Earns NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

UNC Charlotte’s Devin Clegg sees a strong linkage between his selection for a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and lessons he learned when conducting biological sciences research and playing football with the Charlotte 49ers.

Clegg, who completed his bachelor’s degree in exercise science at UNC Charlotte in 2016, is pursuing a master’s degree in biology at UNC Charlotte. With the fellowship, he will receive three years of financial support over a five-year fellowship period – a $34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the graduate institution. Clegg is among 2,000 awardees chosen this year from over 13,000 applicants.

Clegg is affiliated with two research labs in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences – the labs of marine biologist Adam Reitzel and molecular and cell biologist Richard Chi. Clegg’s research combines molecular biology and protein biochemistry to uncover how genomes evolve in animals.

“I am looking into an organism that is not a conventional model organism to use for my project,” he said. “I am going to use the sea anemone, a cnidarian, and since it’s not a very well known model, I think that was a big aspect of my selection for the fellowship. What I am researching is a transcription factor. It’s a protein that aids in the regulation of other specific proteins that help with things ranging from normal development to antioxidant properties and many other things.”

He joins two other NSF Graduate Research Fellows in Reitzel’s lab, which boasts three of the six GRFs currently at UNC Charlotte. Tyler Carrier, a Ph.D. student, joined the lab in September 2015, and Remi Ketchum, a Ph.D. student, joined the lab in January 2017.

Clegg first was exposed to molecular biology when Chi served a turn as the UNC Charlotte 49ers Football Faculty Coach. At a players’ meeting, Chi described his research and tossed out an offer to mentor players interested in the life sciences.

“I sat down with him when we had the team dinner, and talked with him,” Clegg said. “He was a little skeptical. I understand why. Coming from a kinesiology background, I knew pretty much nothing about molecular biology techniques and working in a lab setting, but it all worked out.”

Through hard work and determination, Clegg obtained an internship with Chi’s lab, which employs molecular biology, protein chemistry, live cell imaging and yeast genetics to study proteins involved in membrane trafficking.

Devin Clegg (left) works with UNC Charlotte Biological Sciences researchers Adam Reitzel and Richard Chi.

“When I first met Devin and saw his determination and his desire to learn, I believed he would be a strong addition to the research team in my lab,” Chi said. “He has proven that true in his time with us, as he has grown as a researcher. His research holds potential not only for him, but also for his particular field of study. I know, too, that he will continue to evolve as a scholar and also as a mentor for students who are coming behind him, which is important not only in my lab but also in modern research generally.”

As he gained confidence in the lab, Clegg felt like he had found his place. “It felt natural to me,” he said. “Everything really flowed, and it felt natural, like I was supposed to be doing this.”

The direction his research took led to him working also in the Reitzel lab, which employs evolution ecology, genetics, molecular biology, and field studies to answer questions about the evolution of proteins in marine invertebrates, such as sea anemones, jellyfishes and corals.

Following graduation in 2016, he pursued a post baccalaureate to complete courses for a biology degree and to grow his research experience and obtain a better understanding of cellular and molecular biology.

Like Chi, Reitzel quickly saw Clegg’s potential.

“I have been impressed with Devin’s curiosity and his desire to learn new skills and explore new questions,” Reitzel said. “His commitment also to mentoring others and helping them experience opportunities that may be new for them also has impressed me and fits in well with the collaborative focus among the team members in my lab. I am confident he will continue to be a strong contributor to the research and outreach we are doing, and I’m also excited about the growing collaboration he can help us foster with Dr. Chi’s lab.”

Clegg hopes others can draw lessons from his story. He will continue to join other members of the Chi and the Reitzel labs in engaging with the broader community, specifically through mentoring and encouraging younger students. He intends particularly to focus on a stereotype he perceives.

“With graduate studies I want to remove the stereotype of student-athletes and researchers,” he wrote in his application. “Being a former student-athlete, I have experienced classmates talking down as if I was incompetent.”

In his application, Clegg included details about playing football. “I think the reviewers felt I could be a good person for the fellowship because of my work ethic,” he said. “Research is like football in that you practice and practice, and then you have to be ready to deal with issues that come up.”

He already knows one important lesson he will share with others.

“If you don’t try, you’ll never know what could have happened,” he said. “That’s what my mother always told me when I was little, such as trying out for baseball. She said, “You might be scared you’re not going to make it. But don’t be afraid of the rejection. If you don’t try, it’s definitely a no. If you do put that effort forward, you might end up with a yes.” ”

Words and Images: Lynn Roberson, CLAS Communications Director
— The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.