University of Houston Athletics
Where Are They Now Archive: Nicola Clegg
10/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Sport: Swimming
Years at Houston: 1993-97
Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of California-San Francisco, 2004
B.S. in Biochemical and Biophysical Science, University of Houston , 1998
Home: Los Angeles
Background
A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Nicola came to Houston on an academic scholarship in 1993-94. While at UH, she was a four-time member of the Southwest Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, and a 1995-96 and 1996-97 District VI CoSIDA Academic All-American. She also served as the president of the Omicron Delta Kappa, and was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta-Phi Eta Sigma Academic Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society.
What would you consider the highlight of your career as a UH career?
"My first Southwest Conference Championships in the University of Texas Natatorium were really exciting. I had swam dual meets in the United States before, but this was the first big meet. I managed to advance to the finals in the breaststroke events with my personal best times, and swim for my team in the medley relay. The team spirit that had everyone getting fired up for their Cougar teammates and shouting at the end of the lanes was incredible, and nothing like had ever experienced while swimming in South Africa."
What are you doing now?
"After leaving UH, I attended the University of California-San Francisco, where she earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology in December, 2004 after studying the effects of the anti-estrogen drugs used to treat breast cancer and osteoporosis. I work in the Department of Medicine at UCLA and am conducting research into the signaling defects and hormone resistance in prostate cancer."
What was your biggest thrill as a researcher?
"The most rewarding aspect of the research is knowing that you, along with thousands of other researchers worldwide, are working towards figuring out the pieces of a puzzle that will help you understand disease and how to treat it.
"There are many frustrations and dead-ends along the way, and most of the time, the discoveries are incremental, and build on the knowledge and theories already in place.
"I managed to use chemistry to design some new molecules that bind to estrogen receptors, allowing us to study the way in which these receptors signal to cells in breast cancer. Once we understand what is happening at a molecular level, we can find more effective ways of treating the disease."
What are some of your goals in your research?
"I want to make sure that I'm always doing the things I love and believe in, and to stay passionate about life. I think that's the way people make the biggest difference in their families and communities. My family and friends are spread all over the world, and so travel is inevitable. In the more immediate future, I want to learn to surf, and to improve my Spanish."
Are you currently involved with any sports?
"I am a member of the UCLA Bruin Master's swimming team and enjoy running and biking along the beach in Venice, where I live."
Do you have a family?
"I am single, and don't have any kids yet. But, I do enjoy being the 'big auntie' to the children of my friends and former teammates. I think they'll make a pretty good age-group team in a few years!"
