Jenny Trinitapoli

Jenny Trinitapoli is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Committee for International Social Science Research at the University of Chicago. She holds a B.A. from Marquette University (1999), M.A. (2004), and Ph.D. (2007) from the University of Texas at Austin.

Her research bridges social demography and the sociology of religion, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Malawi. She leads the Tsogolo la Thanzi (TLT) longitudinal study examining how young adults navigate relationships, sex, and childbearing amid the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the study emphasizes demographic processes and their intersection with cultural meaning systems.

Key research themes include HIV/AIDS impact on social behavior, fertility decisions in disease-affected regions, and the role of religion in health outcomes. Her work often addresses methodological challenges in longitudinal data collection and the ethical dimensions of field research.

Trinitapoli has published widely on AIDS-related topics, demographic trends, and faith-based responses to health crises. Her 2023 book *An Epidemic of Uncertainty* synthesizes findings from the TLT study, while her methodological contributions include the 'printcase' Stata command for data visualization.

Grants and awards: Principal Investigator of the TLT study funded by NICHD. No explicit awards listed, but her sustained research leadership indicates significant recognition in her field.

Labs/Teams: Tsogolo la Thanzi research center in Balaka, Malawi, employing over 20 local staff. Collaborates with international health and demographic institutions.