Samuel Jenness

Samuel Jenness is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH). He leads the EpiModel Research Lab, specializing in mathematical and computational approaches to study epidemic dynamics. His work focuses on developing the open-source EpiModel software for infectious disease modeling and applying these methods to sexually transmitted infections (e.g., HIV, gonorrhea) and respiratory pathogens (e.g., TB, SARS-CoV-2). Dr. Jenness teaches courses on infectious disease dynamics and epidemiology at RSPH and directs the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Certificate program. His research integrates network science to model transmission dynamics across populations, with a focus on optimizing prevention strategies.

• Education: PhD (University of Washington), MPH and BA (Boston University)
• Key Roles: Faculty Director (RSPH Infectious Disease Certificate), Course Instructor (EPI 570, EPI 512)

Research interests include the interplay between social networks and disease spread, antimicrobial resistance, and HIV/STI prevention. His lab supports MPH/PhD students and collaborates globally on modeling studies. Recent work addresses pandemic-related behavioral changes, vaccination strategies, and interventions in high-risk populations like jails and resource-poor settings.

Publications span over 70 studies, emphasizing model-driven insights into transmission dynamics and public health policy. His work on the EpiModel platform has been widely adopted for global health research.