In December 2024, Justin Fousek, a Research Systems Administrator II at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Bioinformatics Core, was awarded a Core Facility Staff Recognition Award in the area of Technical Achievement. His multiple nominators highlighted Justin’s ability to find creative, compliant, and effective solutions to a myriad of technical, logistical, and com problems experienced by his clients quickly and efficiently. His documentation of problems and solutions has also been highlighted as an impactful for his peers. Justin also provides critical infrastructure to other UNC Chapel Hill core facilities, providing an impact to research far and wide across the university.
How did you get into your field?
I started working in the IT department at the career center I attended for my last 2 years of high school. This allowed me to learn how to work in a small team and to increase my technical knowledge (networking, troubleshooting, desktop support, image management). This experience landed me my first job at a label company and allowed me to get a few great internships starting my freshman year of university. I started working at UNC Chapel Hill on a contract in June of 2021, I was then hired full-time by UNC in November of 2021.
What is your favorite part of working in your core? What does your average day look like?
I love working on a small team and being able to help a lot of other teams. I have been able to make a big difference and help a lot of people while seeing the impacts firsthand, something that is not always possible in a large team.
My average day starts by looking at our shared inbox for any tickets that users have submitted and solving them when I can. User requests are my team’s number one priority, after security growth and response. After that, I choose an item off my always increasing list of things to do to grow our infrastructure services and hardware while increasing its security and reliability. Some days, I have meetings with other cores or groups to help with issues or learn what we can do to support them.
My favorite project so far has been automating our Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) and IP Address Management (IPAM) software. Previously, we had a manual process for documenting VM and physical device specifications, tracking which websites were running on which servers, and mapping IP addresses to those servers. I automated all these tasks with over 1,500 lines of code, and I’m very proud of the results.
Who inspires you (alive or deceased)?
My father inspires me every day. As a director of global health and safety, he works tirelessly to ensure that his company’s employees have a safe, OSHA-compliant environment. He is a passionate advocate for their well-being and never compromises on his principles. While I am not a safety professional, I strive to incorporate many of his values into my own life.
At work, I aim to support my colleagues by doing everything I can to help them succeed. Although I do not conduct cancer research, I remain committed to ensuring my colleagues’ technical needs are met so they can thrive in their research. My father and I can both be persistent when it comes to solving problems, but this determination always comes from a shared desire to help others.
My father and I can both be persistent when it comes to solving problems, but this determination always comes from a shared desire to help others.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What is something you’re really good at?
As an Eagle Scout, I love spending time outdoors. I often go hiking with my Fiancée and friends, paddle down a river in a canoe or kayak, or go downhill skiing somewhere on the east coast. I also enjoy tinkering with our 2001 Jeep Cherokee learning some mechanic skills from YouTube and blogs.
I excel at finding new uses for old technology. From a young age, I enjoyed tinkering with gadgets to explore their potential. While many seek the latest and greatest, as a public institution funded by taxpayers, it’s essential for us to maximize the lifespan of existing technology whenever possible—provided it doesn’t compromise quality.
…as a public institution funded by taxpayers, it’s essential for us to maximize the lifespan of existing technology whenever possible—provided it doesn’t compromise quality..