***** Vol.4 Chap.3 Solidifying control *****
After Mark left, JB picked up the phone and called Dr. Tomash.
“Dr. Tomash?”
“Yes?”
“This is JB. Can I come over and chat with you about the NIH grant?”
“Sure, what time?”
“This afternoon?”
“I am free at 3:00 pm.”
“I will be there.”
“Great, see you then.”
Right at 3:00 pm, JB, all dressed in a newly bought business suit, knocked at Dr. Tomash’s office door.
“Come in.”
Dr. Tomash noticed JB’s new appearance at once. She was no longer a sloppily dressed post doc interested in computers than appearance. In fact, she looks very professional and dignified.
“Dr. Tomash. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
“JB! You look so…”
“Thank you. Dr. Thomas had made me an adjunct faculty, hoping I would stay on as a permanent faculty here.”
A little bending on the truth.
“Well, congratulations!”
“Thank you. So, I thought I should be dressed like a faculty member.”
“Well, you certainly have. What do you have in mind today? This is not our regular research time.”
“Yes, I know. Dr. Thomas has given me responsibility over all of Dr. Abdulcizi’s research programs and students.”
She was skating on thin ice regarding the ownership of the NIH grant.
“That is quite a responsibility. Frank had big shoes to fill.”
“He may have. But to me, he was quite short of vision. I have grand plans for our research programs and that is what I like to talk to you about.”
“I am all ears.”
JB then outlined her thoughts to Dr. Tomash.
First, she thought Frank was too conservative, too timid to push the research findings, too reserved to think outside of the box. Sure, he got some datasets from various organizations and charged her and Mark to analyze the dataset as best as they could.
But to her, they could do much, much more with the data. She felt their interpretations of the research results were too restricted to only what was obvious and observable. They could be bolder to publish the results and publicize their findings to attract more funding.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Second, she wanted to push the research to the forefront. Though they had found some segments of the gene that corresponded to violent behaviors, she told Dr. Tomash that such puny results would never position one to win the Nobel prize.
Her vision was to push the envelope further to understand not just the relationship of the genome with violent behaviors, but the actual cause and effect of the genome on violent behaviors.
Third, she wanted to push the research to the twilight zone by finding a way to repair the genome if found to be defective. If that was not possible, at least a safeguard to counteract the effects of a set of defective genes.
Only then will she be guaranteed a Nobel Prize. That would be her life’s goal. And she wanted that within ten years’ time.
Dr. Tomash sat there with her mouth open, quietly listening to JB describing her long-term goal and life’s dreams. Finally, when she stopped for breath, Dr. Tomash cut in.
“JB, I applaud you with such admirable goals. I wish you every luck in the world. I really like to see what you described happening in my lifetime.”
“Yes, Dr. Tomash. That is why I need your help.”
“How can I help?”
“I need people who share my dream and can work with me.”
“Of course.”
“I need to make some changes in personnel in the NIH grant.”
“Yes?”
“Dr. Abdulcizi hired Mark for his side projects. I feel Mark really had no clue according to the genetic research and I feel he would be a burden to this research program.”
“You don’t want him?”
“His research is more in artificial intelligence. I need human intelligence and understanding of the real world, not his cyber world.”
“I can understand that.”
“I hope you will agree with me. I told Mark we will not support him any more after this semester.”
“I don’t have any problem with that. You should be able to hire someone who can help you with your research.”
“Thank you, Dr. Tomash. We need fresh blood with fresh vision to help us propel the project to the forefront of science. That is why I would like to have more control over the budget of the NIH grant so that I can assemble a talented team for our goals.”
“That’s fine with me. I will notify the grant office that you also have signatory authority.”
“Thank you.”
Though serious so far, JB could not help to let out a satisfactory smile on her face.
Quickly hiding her elation, she continued, “There is one more thing I like to get your suggestion.”
“Yes?”
“When genes are activated, typically the results are particular hormones being produced?”
“Typically.”
“Would that be a cause-and-effect relationship?”
“Yes, perhaps either positively or negatively. Positively in terms of some hormones being produced more or negatively in terms of the production of some hormones being reduced.”
“I see. Who in the faculty is an expert on this subject?”
“Let me make some phone calls. I can get back to you later.”
“Super, thank you, Dr. Tomash. Have a wonderful day.”
“You too.”
After leaving Dr. Tomash’s office, JB was feeling thrilled. Everything was falling into place according to plan. She was now teaching Frank’s classes, controlling the budget of his research programs, and, most of all, sitting in his former office.
Dr. Tomash sat for a long time pondering on the conversation. On one hand, she liked Frank. They were colleagues and collaborators for quite some time, long before JB showed up on the scene. Yet without Frank around…
His disappearance was troubling. In fact, the turmoil around her old friend in recent weeks was rather disturbing. She was not sure whether he was a victim of the circumstances or he had just flipped. Whatever scant rumors about him she heard, nothing made sense. She was really at a quandary on how to proceed and carry on the research program.
Today, JB’s coming and her pep talk seemed so enticing, so refreshing, so full of visions that totally won her over. But then she caught herself. Was she that easily convinced because there was a promise of fame and money?
On one hand, she never really liked JB, and she thought the recent demise with Frank had a lot to do with her underhanded working behind the scenes. She could never bring herself to fully trust JB because of that. But her talk was very convincing after she pointed out all Frank’s fault and weaknesses.
Can I really continue to work with JB as a colleague and collaborator?
Margaret sat there for a long time thinking with little resolution. Finally, she gave up and decided to go with the flow. If the department entrusted JB with Frank’s research program, she just had to continue working with JB regardless whether she like JB or not. She must be professional about this and professionals would not allow personal feelings to interfere with their professional work.