Bernadette Hof

Bernadette Hof is a research assistant and doctoral candidate at the Institute of Sociology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, working under Prof. Dr. Konstanze Senge in the Chair of Economic and Organizational Sociology since November 2015. She holds an MA in Sociology from Bielefeld and Lucerne Universities (2012-2015) and a BA in Sociology from Bielefeld University (2008-2012).

Her primary research interests focus on security and security actors, organizational sociology, risk and uncertainty management, governmentality studies, and systems theory. She employs qualitative methods of empirical social research to investigate how commercial security service providers construct security knowledge and manage risks in semi-public spaces. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks from systems theory with practical organizational challenges in contemporary security contexts.

Hof's publications from 2018-2023 demonstrate a consistent trajectory examining security rationalities, organizational constructs, and emotional dimensions of security work. Her research shows increasing engagement with theoretical frameworks in economic sociology while maintaining empirical focus on security practices. Recent work reflects collaboration with established scholars in edited volumes addressing broader sociological themes.

As an educator, Hof has taught numerous seminars across multiple semesters on topics including securitization, risk sociology, organizational types, and security society. She has organized academic events such as the 2021 workshop 'Feelings of (In)Security. On the Sensual Organization of Precarious Order' in collaboration with the Collaborative Research Center 138 'Dynamics of Security.' Her consultation hours are held weekly, demonstrating ongoing engagement with students.