MaryJo Carter has spent more than nine years at Advarra, growing alongside the organization and helping shape how teams show up for each other—and for customers. As an ongoing review manager, MaryJo leads a team that plays a critical role in the life of a study, ensuring reviews move forward with care, accuracy, and empathy. With a background in applied psychology, she brings a deeply human perspective to research oversight. In this Q&A, MaryJo shares how she found her way into research, why Advarra’s mission resonates with her, and how strong relationships, thoughtful training, and technology like CIRBI come together to support participants and customers alike.
What first drew you to research, and what challenges stood out to you early on?
My background is actually in psychology and counseling, not research. While I was in school, I did some mock IRB submissions in research classes, and that stuck with me. When I realized counseling wasn’t the path I wanted to pursue long-term, I knew I still wanted meaningful work—something that mattered. I didn’t want a job where I just clocked in and out. When I found a local IRB that was hiring, it felt like a good fit. Early on, what stood out was how much responsibility there is behind the scenes. Even tasks that seem routine connect back to real studies and real people. That perspective stayed with me as I moved up through different roles.
What made you believe Advarra could help address those challenges in research?
From the beginning, Advarra felt like a place where the work had purpose. Even as the company has grown, that focus on why we exist hasn’t gone away. A lot of my team members don’t come from research backgrounds, so we build that understanding into training—talking about why IRBs exist and the historical and ethical reasons behind them. When people understand the “why,” the work feels different. It’s not just processing reviews—it’s contributing to something bigger. That alignment between mission and daily work is what made Advarra stand out to me.
How do you see your team going above and beyond for customers, and what impact does that have?
One thing we joke about is how some team members become a customer’s “favorite person.” Clients will call them for anything because they know they’ll get help from someone who cares. That consistency matters—seeing the same names year after year builds trust. We focus a lot on outreach and being approachable, whether that’s walking someone through a submission or helping under a tight deadline. When things move faster and with less friction, it reduces stress for researchers and can ultimately benefit patients. We always say: fast and well done. Quality comes first, but responsiveness really makes a difference.
What excites you most about CIRBI?
I love how centralized everything is in the platform. It’s all documented, which is critical, but it also makes it easier to understand what’s happening with a study. If something looks off, you can follow the history and figure out where it changed and how to fix it. Looking ahead, I’m most excited about how upcoming improvements will allow for more flexibility and responsiveness. I think of it like an iOS update: It’s familiar, but better. The same ease of use, just more modern and adaptable. That ability to evolve alongside customer and employee needs is really exciting.
Want to learn more? Check out this overview of Advarra’s review services or contact us to ask an expert a specific question.
