Dr. Rosa Hoekstra

Biography

Rosa Hoekstra is a Professor of Global Autism at King’s College London, focusing on Developmental Disability Research. She completed her PhD on Behaviour Genetics at VU University Amsterdam before undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship at Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre. Since 2009, she has combined her research and teaching roles, first at the Open University from 2009 to 2015 and then at King’s College London, where she has been a professor since 2015. Hoekstra's research interests include understanding the heterogeneity of autism by developing and validating quantitative instruments that assess the spectrum of the autism phenotype. She explores various factors contributing to this heterogeneity, including genetic, sociocultural, and environmental influences. Hoekstra also leads several projects in Ethiopia to improve autism screening tools and mental health training within rural communities. She is an expert commentator on autism in the media and has collaborated with the World Health Organization to develop caregiver training programs. Over her career, Hoekstra has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and is committed to advancing the understanding and support of individuals with developmental disabilities across global contexts.

Research Interests

Experience