Bernd Marquardt

Bernd Marquardt is affiliated with the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz as part of the GRK Life Sciences – Life Writing research program. His work focuses on sociological analyses of medical-technological influences on parenthood, particularly through qualitative methodologies. He holds degrees in Sociology, Philosophy, Political Science, and Computer Science from Frankfurt, Konstanz, and Coventry universities.

His research project, *Irregular Birth Passages*, examines how medical technologies reshape parental experiences, including assisted reproduction, prenatal diagnosis, and transnational surrogacy. This project interrogates the socio-spatial and temporal dynamics of modern parenthood in Western societies.

Marquardt previously worked at the Institut of Sociology at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main. His academic interests include the Sociology of Medicine, Family, Art, and Religion, with a focus on liminal experiences and institutionalized parenthood scenarios.

He actively contributes to interdisciplinary discussions within the GRK, aiming to integrate diverse academic perspectives while fostering collaborative research environments.