***** Vol.4 Chap.1 Disappearance *****
Dr. Frank Abdelcizi, the George W. Smith Professor of Computer Science at Carniegie Institute, a prestigious university, headed the well-known, well-respected research team with Dr. Margaret Tomash from the Department of Genetics and two post-docs, Dr. JB Smith and Dr. Mark Hymann.
After obtaining the DNA data on inmates and corresponding siblings from Dr. Lovelace, JB programed a generative AI program to examine segments of the DNA coding and was first to arrive at a viable, predictive model that correlated well with persons having violence tendency.
Consequently, Frank was urged by the team to present their research results to several conferences as a trial balloon. The talks were met with significant skepticism.
He himself was also stricken by the moral implications of their research results, hence he proceeded with his research cautiously, being concerned that if indeed one can correlate the genetic coding with a person’s expressed violent tendencies, then the implication of such correlation could be far-reaching and possibly abused to cause irreparable damage to society if the technology happened to fall into the wrong hands.
Mark worked under Frank’s supervision and his research centered on creating cyber creatures that can communicate and cooperate with one another, and evolve by passing gained knowledge from one generation to another. Of course, these cyber creatures ‘lived’ only on Mark’s computer, i.e. cyber space.
When mutation was added to these cyber creatures, any aggressive behavior through mutation would cause the aggressive creatures eventually to dominate the entire population. These results were also a concern to Frank, as he longed to see the future of the world to be a peaceful one.
While he was at the peak of his career, his dissatisfaction grew with a subliminal call to visit his own homeland in Egypt, specifically, the Sphinx. Not understanding why, yet the urge grew stronger and deeper.
Through a series of fabricated accusations within the Institute directed to him by someone in his research team, he was placed on administrative leave. Taking this opportunity to return to Egypt, he sought to confirm or deny the urge related to the Sphinx and the feeling that something might happen to him there. Indeed, after he left the US and arrive at destination, he disappeared and had not been heard of.
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After a week has gone by since his mysterious disappearance from the Institute, the Department of Computer Science was in a crisis mode regarding his classes and his ongoing research program. Dr. Jim Thomas, the department chair, and Dr. Cherry, the Dean of the College, had an urgent meeting at the Dean’s office.
“Any word on Frank?” Dean Cherry started the conversation.
“No. We have asked Dr. JB Smith, his closest post-doc and Dr. Mark Hymann, the new post-doc many times if they had any contact with Frank. None of them had seen him. We have sealed his office, and the seal was intact. I have also asked Mary, our secretary, to stop by his apartment and it appeared no one had been home.”
“Hmm. This is terrible.” Dean Cherry shook his head.
“I have asked JB to take his classes in the meantime so we will not have any complaints from the students. JB was always the one taking his classes when he was gone before.”
“Good. At least the classes are covered for now.”
“What about his research programs?”
“Well, he has an NIH grant with Dr. Margaret Tomash and I heard NSF came to him asking for a proposal.”
“So, Dr. Tomash can handle the NIH grant?”
“She is the co-investigator. I am sure she can take care of the remaining two years left in the grant. I will double check with her. Dr. JB Smith had come to me asking if she can submit the proposal to NSF. She said she already had the proposal written.”
“Well, I don’t see why not?” Dean Cherry said while nodding his head.
“But university regulations stipulate only a faculty member can submit the grant!”
“What about Dr. Tomash?”
“I suggested that to JB, but she was adamant about her own name. She did not want anyone else on the proposal. Confidentially, I don’t think she works well with others, especially Dr. Tomash, being a former colleague of Frank. You knew all the troubles that had happened between JB and Frank.”
“What do you suggest? If NSF came to us, it seems this is too good an opportunity to pass up.”
“Yes, I am considering. What if we make JB an Adjunct Faculty to finish the term? This would give her faculty status and we can evaluate her as a potential candidate to replace Frank’s position?” Jim made a bold suggestion.
“This may work. Jim, I think this is an excellent idea.”
“Okay, I will let JB know. In the meantime, we should probably form a search committee quickly and initiate a search for Frank’s replacement.”
“Sounds good. Keep me in the loop.”
“Of course.”