Matthias Benzer

Dr. Matthias Benzer is a Lecturer in Sociology at the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield, where he joined in 2012. He previously held the Peacock Fellowship at the London School of Economics (2010–12) and a Lectureship in Sociology at the University of Manchester (2008–10).

• BSc (London School of Economics)
• PhD (London School of Economics, 2008)

His research focuses on contemporary Sociological Theory and Social Science Methodology, with a particular emphasis on Critical and Poststructuralist Social Theory. He investigates how these frameworks contribute to understanding modern capitalist society, its social relations, and their implications for human life and thought. His current project examines the operations of quality of life ideas in healthcare regulation, including their epistemological, normative, and bioethical dimensions.

His recent publications and chapters reflect his engagement with healthcare decision-making, Adorno’s theories, and the biopolitical configurations of life valuation. Matthias is co-convenor of the "Risk, Policy and the Law" research strand at Sheffield’s Centre for Medical Humanities and has served as an editor for the Risk&Regulation magazine at LSE. His work bridges theoretical inquiry with empirical studies in health, suffering, and death.

• New Directions Award, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Sheffield (2013–14)
• Peacock Fellowship, Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation, London School of Economics (2010–12)

Dr. Benzer supervises doctoral research in critical social theory and empirical studies of health, illness, and death. He is currently writing a book with Kate Reed on contemporary social theory’s problematizations of human life. His teaching emphasizes classical sociological theory (Durkheim, Marx, Weber, Simmel) and biopolitical analyses of life and death.