Headshot of Dr. Adams
Director of Graduate Studies • Professor
Health and Behavioral Sciences

Office location:
North Classroom 3025C

Office hours:
Friday 12:30pm-2:00pm


Broadly, my research revolves around addressing how networks constrain or promote the diffusion of information and/or diseases through populations. Much of this work has focused on HIV/AIDS in "high risk" populations in the US and Sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, I have spent more time examining the integrative patterns and processes in problem-focused areas of science that draw from many academic disciplines (e.g., HIV/AIDS, demography, the environment). In addition, I have a primary interest in using social network theory to improve strategies used in the design and implementation of primary data collection projects. 

Before coming to UCD, I was an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department and affiliate of the Center on Health, Risk and Society at American University, and an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Arizona State University, where I was affiliated with the Center for Population Dynamics and the Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity. Before that, I spent two years funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as a Health and Society Scholar at Columbia University.

PhD, Ohio State University (Sociology) - 2007
MA, Ohio State University (Sociology) - 2004
BA, Virginia Tech (Interdisciplinary Studies) - 1998

forthcoming. jimi adams, Elizabeth Lawrence, Joshua Goode, David R. Schaefer, & Stefanie Mollborn. “Peer Network Processes in Adolescents’ Health Lifestyles.” Journal of Health & Social Behavior doi: 10.31235/osf.io/xnd39

2021. Andrea Buchwald, Jude Bayham, jimi adams, David Bortz, Katie Colburn, Olivia Zarella, Meghan Buran, Jonathan Samet, Debashis Ghosh, Rachel Herlihy, & Elizabeth J. Carlton. “Estimating the Impact of State-Wide Policies to Reduce Spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Real Time.” Emerging Infectious Diseases 27(9). doi: 10.3201/eid2709.204167

2020. jimi adams†, Ryan Light†, & Nicholas Theis. († 1st authors contributed equally). “Mobilizing COVID-19 Research.” Contexts 19(4): 36-41. doi: 10.1177/1536504220977933

2020. jimi adams, David R. Schaefer, & Andrea Vest Ettekal. “Crafting Mosaics: Person- Centered Religious Influence and Selection in Adolescent Friendships.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 59(1): 39-61. doi: 10.1111/jssr.12638

2019. jimi adams. Gathering Social Network Data. Quantitative Analysis in the Social Sciences Series, Volume 180. SAGE.

2019. jimi adams & Adam M. Lippert. “Under the Radar: Simplifying the Representation of Latent Class Characteristics.” Socius (5):1-3. doi: 10.1177/2378023119873498

2019. Stéphane Helleringer, jimi adams, Sara Yeatman, & James Mkandawire. “Evaluating Sampling Biases from Third-party Reporting as a Method for Improving Survey Measures of Sensitive Behaviors.” Social Networks 59:134-140. doi: 10.1016/j.socnet.2019.07.003

2018. jimi adams† & David R. Schaefer†. († authors contributed equally.) “Visualizing Stochastic Actor-Based Model Microsteps.” Socius (4):1-3. doi: 10.1177/2378023118816545.

2017. James Moody, jimi adams, & Martina Morris. “Epidemic Potential by Sexual Activity Distributions.” Network Science 5(4):461-475. doi: 10.1017/nws.2017.3

2017. David R. Schaefer & jimi adams. “The Co-Evolution of Networks & Health: Introduction to the Special Issue.” Network Science 5(3):249-256. doi: 10.1017/nws.2017.24

2016. Ryan Light & jimi adams. “Knowledge in Motion: The Evolution of HIV/AIDS Research.” Scientometrics 107(3):1227-1248. doi: 10.1007/s11192-016-1933-2 

2016. jimi adams & David R. Schaefer. “How Initial Prevalence Moderates Network-Based Smoking Change: Estimating Contextual Effects with Stochastic Actor Oriented Models.” Journal of Health & Social Behavior 57(1):22-38. doi: 10.1177/0022146515627848

2016. Ryan Light & jimi adams. “A Dynamic, Multidimensional Approach to Knowledge Production.” Chapter 6 in Frickel S, Albert M, & Prainsack B (eds.) Investigating Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Theory & Practice across the Disciplines. Rutgers University Press. doi: 10.31235/osf.io/gek68

2015. jimi adams & Ryan Light. “Scientific Consensus, the Law and Same-Sex Parenting.” Social Science Research 53:300-310. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2015.06.008

2015. jimi adams. “Glee’s McKinley High: Following Middle America’s Sexual Taboos.” Network Science 3(2):293-295. doi: 10.1017/nws.2015.16

UNHL 3999 -- How to Science

PBHL 3999 – Diffusion: How Things Spread

PBHL 4040 – Social Determinants of Health

PBHL 4099 – Capstone Experience in Public Health

HBSC 7011 – Theoretical Perspectives in Health and Behavioral Sciences I

HBSC 7041 – Research Design 

HBSC 7071 – Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health

HBSC 7400 – Social Network Analysis