Hoekstra has been affiliated with Maastricht University since 1986. As academic coordinator, he played an important role in formalizing what was then Riagg Maastricht and setting up an infrastructure for fundamental research into all kinds of psychopathology and its treatment. Later the research school Experimental Psychopathology (EPP) arose from this, where he was director of operations from 2001-2006.
Hoekstra set aside his own research ambitions to do this, writes FPN dean Harald Merckelbach in the letter of recommendation to the Medallion of Honor Committee. In the letter, Merckelbach praises Hoekstra's commitment, knowledge and network that have helped, among other things, in the transition from the EPP research school, the Differential, Medical and Clinical Psychology department and Mental Health study programme from the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences to FPN. Hoekstra also represented UM on the Supervisory Board of Rino-Zuid, a training institute for health care and clinical psychologists.
In recent years, Hoekstra has been involved in the creation of Scannexus and was responsible for the safety measures for laboratory research during the corona crisis.