Peter Katz

Statistician · Data Engineer · Sculptor

Research technologist, sculptor, and technical generalist with 18 years at Duke University. I serve as the primary programmer and systems architect for a 20-year NIH-funded longitudinal study across 18,000+ Indonesian households—responsible for everything from data quality pipelines to tablet-based neuroscience games to machine learning on satellite imagery. Outside academia I work as a 3D conceptual design artist with metal artists and sculptors, and as a guest teaching artist at Liberty Arts in Durham.

The through-line: I understand complex systems, and I make them work—with code, with tools, and with my hands.

Experience

Duke University Department of Economics

Statistician III (Econometrician)

Durham, NC · August 2007–Present

Primary programmer and technical architect for the Study of the Tsunami Aftermath and Recovery (STAR), an NIH-funded longitudinal survey of 18,000+ households in Aceh and North Sumatra, Indonesia. Also serve as technical generalist for the Economics Department and Duke Population Research Institute (DuPRI).

Survey Data Systems & Public Use Releases

  • Maintain and quality-control STAR's longitudinal dataset across 8+ waves spanning 20 years
  • Prepared and released 6 waves of STAR data to the public at star-data.org; built the PHP data request and distribution system from scratch, including a privacy-preserving parallel ID system
  • Created comprehensive STAR Data Processing Manual (2025)

Interactive Cognitive Assessment Software

  • Self-taught Unity 3D and C# to build the STAR Preferences survey (2014): real-cash-payout economic experiment fielded with ~900 respondents on touchscreen tablets in Indonesia
  • Led development of STAR Cognitives suite (2015–2016): neuroscience-validated games measuring working memory, spatial reasoning, planning, and executive function; deployed with 12,000+ respondents
  • Collaborators: Harvard Neuroscience, Duke, Sanford School of Public Policy, UNC Clinical Psychology

Remote Sensing & Machine Learning

  • Applied convolutional neural network image segmentation to very-high-resolution satellite imagery (pre/post-2004 tsunami); Python workflow reduced spatial processing from weeks to hours
  • Extracted multi-year MODIS NDVI/EVI data via Google Earth Engine API for all STAR sites (2001–present)

Web Development & Departmental Tools

  • Built the Economics Dept Seminar Scheduling Web Tool (2012): used by 30 seminars; in continuous operation for 13+ years
  • Built FinTools (2007–2014): custom financial reporting system (SAP R3 / Business Warehouse) for 80+ faculty; adopted as model for university-wide OIT product
  • Built and maintained BREAD website; managed transition from Harvard to Duke to Brown

GIS & Spatial Analysis

  • ArcGIS: elevation datasets (SRTM/ASTER), distance-to-coast, interpolated tsunami wave-height surfaces (NOAA), detailed maps of Aceh/Sumatra
  • Supported DEEPP (Dynamics of Extreme Events, People, and Places) NC coastline survey

California Center for Population Research UCLA

Programmer Analyst

Los Angeles, CA · September 2005–August 2007

Labor Occupational Safety and Health UCLA

Computer Resource Specialist

Los Angeles, CA · July 2004–September 2005

The Fresno Housing Authorities

Computer Applications Specialist

Fresno, CA · November 1999–January 2003

Sitel Corporation

Associate Support Engineer

October 1997–October 1998

Art Practice & Fabrication

Independent 3D Conceptual Design for Artists

3D Conceptual Design Artist

Durham, NC · 2015–Present

Technical partner to metal artists and sculptors, with hundreds of models in Sketchfab portfolio.

  • 3D scanning: photogrammetry and structured light scanning of physical sculpture
  • Digital modeling & rendering: Sketchfab presentations for grant applications, gallery proposals, and public art committee submissions
  • CAD & technical files: cutsheets and CNC-ready files for machining and casting
  • Additive manufacturing: 3D printing for casting patterns, custom textures, and fabrication components

Designed and 3D-printed miniature bronze-cast replicas of Durham's Major the Bull for the sculpture's 21st birthday public celebration (2025)

Conceptual design and Sketchfab rendering for Jackie Macleod's public sculpture North Star (Beechwood Cemetery)

Liberty Arts

Guest Teaching Artist & Board Member

Durham, NC · 2016–Present

  • Board Member, 2016–2021, at Durham's community foundry and metal arts nonprofit
  • Guest Teaching Artist: digital modeling and 3D printing for metal casting
  • Iron pour participant and collaborator; scratch block workshops; student mentorship

3D Clay Printing

Duke University Collaboration

Ongoing collaboration with Duke faculty and students on clay-based 3D printing at the intersection of digital fabrication and ceramics.

Publication

Frankenberg E, Peshkin B, Katz P, Sumantri C, Thomas D. “High-resolution imagery and neural networks link post-tsunami land cover changes to population health and well-being.” Communications Earth & Environment (2025).

Civic & Community

PresidentInterNeighborhood Council of Durham (INC)2018
ChairHousing Appeals Board, City of Durham2015
PresidentOld North Durham Neighborhood Association2010
Board MemberReinvestment Partners2010–2020
Board MemberLiberty Arts2016–2021

Education

University of California, Los Angeles

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

College and Departmental Honors, Cum Laude · 2006

Skills

Statistical SAS, Stata, Python
Web PHP, Drupal, HTML/CSS
Interactive Unity 3D, C#
GIS & Remote Sensing ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine, GDAL
Machine Learning CNN image segmentation
Database SQL, VBA, SAP R3
3D Fabrication Photogrammetry, CAD, CNC, FDM/SLA
3D Modeling ZBrush, Rhino 3D, Plasticity, Grasshopper
Survey CSPro, longitudinal data management

Other