COSAM News Articles 2019 November COSAM Staff Spotlight - Darrick Artis

COSAM Staff Spotlight - Darrick Artis

Published: 11/19/2019

Darrick Artis received a 2019 Lilly-Lovelace Distinguished Service Award. Learn more about Darrick who works in the Department of Physics in this COSAM Staff Spotlight:

Q: What year did you start at COSAM?
A: I started my position in COSAM Physics on March 1, 2012.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: My favorite part of my job is being a part of the progression that students undergo as they mature into physicists ready to take on new challenges. It is definitely rewarding seeing students come into the lab green and unsure of themselves then leaving as accomplished and confident young physicists.

Q: What is the best advice you have ever received at COSAM and from whom?
A: The best advice I’ve received while at COSAM has been that there is always someone to talk to when issues need to be resolved or aren’t being resolved, Mike Brackin told me that early on in the construction of the laboratory.

Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I’m originally from Suffolk, Virginia.

Q: What words best describe you?
A: Some words that best describe me would be detailed, passionate, thorough, resilient and freethinking.

Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I enjoy many hobbies, but my most time consuming hobby would be building and modifying cars in my free time. My current premier project is a turbocharged 1400HP 1992 Ford Mustang that I disassembled and rebuilt in my garage using lots of custom parts and fabrication. I’m also a BBQ pitmaster, enjoy brewing beer, and just recently started playing drums with my son. When I’m not doing any of that stuff then I’m watching Formula 1 or WRC, listening to metal or reading.

Q: What is the one thing you do when no one is around?
A: Pantomime death metal songs.

Q: What is your favorite place on campus?
A: My favorite place on campus is the Davis Arboretum.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: I enjoy lots of food and preparations, but my absolute number one meal to prepare would have to be apple wood smoked rack of lamb, bacon-tossed roasted brussel sprouts and duck fat fried steak fries served with a Belgian strong dark ale.

Q: What is your dream travel destination?
A: My dream travel destination would be a year-long May to May vacation in Svalbard to enjoy the full Artic natural experience from Midnight Sun to Midnight Sun. A close second would be two months in Belgium, mid to late summer so that I could attend both the Belgian Grand Prix F1 race the WRC Rallye Deutschland while enjoying hiking, touring breweries and castles, and driving European country roads in between races.

Q: What is your most memorable experience at COSAM?
A: My most memorable experience in COSAM so far would be the delivery and installation of the MDPX 4 Tesla Magnet. This was truly a one of a kind experience that required many hours of preparation and planning leading up to and after the event.

Q: If you could trade places with anyone at COSAM for just one day, who would it be and why?
A: I would trade places with anyone who works in the Arboretum to because I enjoy seeing the natural life on campus and it would be neat to see the behind the scenes work that keeps the Arboretum full of life.