Annika Hoeft

Annika Hoeft is a doctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies in Cologne, Germany, affiliated with the International Max Planck Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy (IMPRS-SPCE). She focuses on economic sociology, sociology of friendship, social structural emotion theory, and methodological approaches combining qualitative and quantitative research.

• Education: MSc in Sociology and Social Research (University of Cologne, 2020–2023), BA in Social Sciences (Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 2017–2020), Erasmus student (University of Ljubljana, 2019–2020).
• Experience: Research Assistant at Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (2022–2023) and University of Cologne (2020–2022).

Her research project Friendship and Wealth explores how friendships contribute to wealth reproduction, defined as monetary capital and lifelong opportunities. It integrates biographical narrative interviews with qualitative network analysis, focusing on wealthy social groups in Germany. The study highlights relational practices distinguishing familial, professional, and friendly ties within the research focus Wealth and Social Inequality.

• Scientific Awards: Deutschlandstipendium (2022–2023) from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Annika’s work intersects with economic sociology, social networks, and inequality studies. She employs mixed-method approaches to analyze how social structures and emotions shape wealth dynamics. Her primary supervisor is Isabell Stamm, and she is based at Paulstr. 3, 50676 Cologne, Germany.