Dr. Maral Darouei

Biography

Maral Darouei is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management and Organization at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in Organizational Behavior. Before joining VU, she held an Assistant Professor position at Leiden University where she obtained her PhD. Her research focuses on the future of work, particularly hybrid work and leadership dynamics. Darouei studies how hybrid remote work arrangements influence employees’ well-being and performance, examining the role of leaders in shaping these outcomes. Currently, she is involved in a significant research project exploring why employees opt to work from home versus the office, alongside conducting experiments to understand how organizational performance incentives impact employees’ location choices. Additionally, her work investigates the daily motivations that affect employees' decisions regarding work locations in different social environments. Darouei has also explored issues of gender and leadership, analyzing how men’s and women’s actual leadership behaviors are perceived differently. Her research has been published in reputable international journals, including the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology and Work & Stress. Moreover, her studies on hybrid work have received attention in major Dutch media outlets. Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Organizational Psychology from Leiden University, where her thesis addressed managing sustainable careers in the contemporary world of work.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards