Maral is an Assistant Professor of Innovation Management at the ITEM group where she actively contributes to the advancement of knowledge on the nexus of innovation ecosystems and sustainability transition. She applies her discipline knowledge to various sectors including the agri-food and energy sector. In her research she investigates interaction dynamics among actors in multi-partner collaborative innovation contexts – that is, innovation ecosystems. Her research focuses on multi-partner collaborative settings formed to support sustainability transitions which are characterized by changes in technology, actors, artifacts, business models, and institutions. 

Her research appeared in the Journal of Business Research, Technovation, Industry and Innovation, Journal of Cleaner Production, International Journal of Innovation Science and Journal of Innovation Management. 

She is committed to driving impactful research and innovation, as evidenced by her involvement in acquiring several national and international project grants, including the CO-FRESH project, BEATLES project, REWIRE, CUES project. 

Before joining Eindhoven University, Maral held the position of Assistant Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. During her time there, she made significant contributions to the academic community, supervising multiple PhDs and a Postdoc, while also taking charge as the Minor Coordinator for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship program.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Maral actively participates in various committees, serving as a member of the Employee Council and the Strategic Committee on Safe and Pleasant Work Environment and takes an advisory role in the Academic Parity Movement. 

Her passion for creating thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems has also led her to engage with projects that focus on fostering entrepreneurial growth in minority communities.