Peter "Pooch" Picucci

Current

Research Assistant and Statistical Data Analyst at University of Kansas

Past

Instructor and/or Graduate Teaching Assistant at University of Kansas
Doctoral Student: Political Science at University of Kansas
Trainer / Software Support Technician at Novanet

Support Specialist and Training Coordinator at General Electric Information Services / FPI

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Education

University of Kansas
California State University-San Bernardino
Northwestern University

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Connections

54 connections

Industry

International Affairs

Peter "Pooch" Picucci’s Summary

Political Science researcher with interests in the field of international conflict and terrorism specifically. Secondary interests include the politics of the Middle East and political psychology approaches to decision making. Broad based familiarity with research methods and analysis, most recently emphasizing computerized content analysis including operational code analysis and event data coding.

Ph. D. in Political Science from the University of Kansas
Masters in National Security Studies from California State University, San Bernardino
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Northwestern University

Currently seeking a research and/or analysis position outside of academia, preferably in the Washington D.C. area.

Peter "Pooch" Picucci’s Specialties:

Operational Code analysis via VICS, using Profiler Plus.
Event Data coding via TABARI and CAMEO.
Game theory including nested game models.
Familiarity with various statistical methods and cluster analysis techniques.
Computer programming skills in Fortran, Pascal, and C as well as html and LaTeX document markup languages.
Strong public speaking, teaching, and instructional skill sets.

Peter "Pooch" Picucci’s Experience

Research Assistant and Statistical Data Analyst

University of Kansas

(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)

March 2008 — Present (10 months)

Assisting a multi-person research staff within the Center for International Political Analysis, that performs international event data coding for several research efforts including the KEDS, PITF and ICEWS projects. Duties include statistical analysis of data as well as maintaining and updating of project documentation and web sites.
Instructor and/or Graduate Teaching Assistant

University of Kansas

(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)

September 1999 — May 2008 (8 years 9 months)

While completing the Ph.D., served as instructor of record for several introductory political science courses including a major lecture section of Comparative Politics (200+ students). Also served as graduate teaching assistant to several professors within the political science department on several occasions.
Doctoral Student: Political Science

University of Kansas

(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)

September 1999 — March 2008 (8 years 7 months)

Dissertation
Terrorism's Operational Code: An Examination of the Belief Systems of al–Qaeda and Hamas.
Abstract
Operational codes for al–Qaeda & Hamas were derived from computerized content analysis of statements attributed to each. Resulting indices were compared across each organization & to the indices of a group of state leaders. Additional analyses were performed on internal subdivisions & across chronologic statement groupings. These comparisons indicated that the operational code approach provides a valuable means of linking differences in terrorist behavior & motivation to differences in belief systems. It also provides a means for tracking group beliefs over time & for evaluating internal belief system differences. Additionally by comparison of observed operational code values to expected values informed by commonly held assumptions within the field of terrorism studies, the operational code approach provides a means of testing the basic validity of those assumptions.
Trainer / Software Support Technician

Novanet

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

April 1998 — July 1999 (1 year 4 months)

Supported instructional software provider and design firm via internal and external training on software as well as day to day maintenance on internal computer services.
Support Specialist and Training Coordinator

General Electric Information Services / FPI

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Computer Software industry)

1994 — 1998 (4 years)

Assisted sales force of a Fortune 500 company with hardware and software troubleshooting as part of a 40+ person help desk. During the last two years with GEIS/FPI served as the Training Coordinator responsible for managing the training of all incoming help desk employees, training of current employees on new software and hardware platforms, and for overseeing the development and maintenance of the training courses and manuals.

Peter "Pooch" Picucci’s Education

University of Kansas

1999 — 2008

Activities and Societies:

Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Graduate Student Association, Oread Rainbow Alliance
California State University-San Bernardino

MA, National Security Studies, 1991 — 1993
Northwestern University

BA, Political Science, 1985 — 1989

Activities and Societies:

Integrated Science Program