Bernd graduated in psychology at Saarland University in 1996. In 1999, he joined the Center for Psychotherapy Research in Stuttgart. In 2003, he moved to Ulm University’s Department of Psychiatry II (head Thomas Becker). Since 2012 he heads the Department’s newly funded Section Process-Outcome Research. He has been working in numerous national and international studies in the field of mental health services and outcome research. He has coordinated the EU funded multicenter study “Clinical decision making and outcome in routine care for people with severe mental illness” (CEDAR, 2009 - 2012). Since 2018, he is coordinator of the multicentre study Using Peer Support In Developing Empowering Mental Health Services (UPSIDES, www.upsides.org) funded by EU and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD). In 2010, he received the Early Career Achievement Award from the Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR). Since 2015, he is Senior Associate Editor of the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. Since 2019 he is co-chair of GACD's Mental Health Research Programme. Since 2020, he is chair of the European Network for Mental Health Service Evaluation (ENMESH). In 2023, he co-founded the Recovery College Ulm/Günzburg, which he co-chairs.. Bernd’s major research interests include process-outcome and implementation research, recovery-oriented interventions, and global mental health. His publication list comprises 100+ peer-reviewed papers, 12 books or book chapters, and 120+ congress contributions.