MaryCarson Adams
Lafayette
Summary
A dedicated Grants and Contracts Manager with 3+ years of comprehensive research administration experience spanning the full grant lifecycle. Expert in pre-award proposal development, budget creation, and post-award financial management for federal sponsors (NIH, NSF, DoD). Proven ability to ensure regulatory compliance, manage a high-volume portfolio, and serve as a strong liaison between Principal Investigators and institutional offices.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Grants and Contracts Manager
Purdue University, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
09.2022 - Current
- Manage the end-to-end preparation and submission of 30+ complex grant proposals to federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DoD), resulting in over $18M in awarded funding.
- Develop and justify complex budgets for proposals ranging from $100K to $5M; expertly steward diverse funding streams, including federal grants, sub-awards, and institutional funds.
- Interpret and implement complex federal regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance), ensuring 100% compliance across a portfolio of 20+ active projects and serving as the primary compliance resource for 15+ Principal Investigators.
- Track and analyze financial data for a $10M+ award portfolio; provide PIs with monthly financial reports and projections, enabling proactive fiscal decisions and identifying $200K in cost-saving efficiencies annually.
Research Lab Manager
Purdue University, Language Learning and Meaning Acquisition Lab
01.2021 - 10.2022
- Streamlined participant recruitment and scheduling for 3 concurrent studies, increasing participant throughput by 20% and improving data collection efficiency.
- Managed the collection of behavioral and survey data using REDCap, ensuring 100% accuracy and strict adherence to data security protocols for 500+ participant entries.
- Trained and supervised a team of 8 undergraduate research assistants in ethical research conduct, data abstraction, and entry procedures, reducing data entry errors by 15%.
- Collaborated on study design, data interpretation, and the preparation of findings, contributing directly to 2 manuscripts currently in press or submitted.
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant
Head To Toe Kids Therapy
04.2019 - 12.2021
- Developed strong therapeutic relationships with a caseload of 20+ patients, improving patient and family satisfaction scores by 25% through empathetic communication and discretion.
- Maintained detailed, confidential patient records and progress reports for 100% of cases, ensuring full compliance with HIPAA and other ethical/regulatory standards.
- Worked effectively with a clinical team to implement and adjust 15+ individualized treatment plans, contributing to measurable patient progress.
Behavioral Therapist
Behavioral Analysis Support Services
03.2019 - 03.2020
- Provided direct, one-on-one support to 10+ children with autism and complex behavioral needs, implementing individualized plans that reduced target behaviors by an average of 40%.
- Systematically collected and analyzed behavioral data daily to inform treatment decisions and reporting, leading to more timely and effective intervention adjustments.
- Maintained strict confidentiality of all sensitive patient information, adhering to the highest ethical and professional guidelines.
Education
Master of Science - Educational Psychology
Purdue University
08.2022
Post-Baccalaureate studies - Communication Science & Disorders
University of South Florida
05.2020
Bachelor of Science - Cognitive Psychology
University of South Florida
12.2018
Skills
- Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced Excel), Project Management Software, Data Management Systems (REDCap)
- Areas of Expertise: Grant Lifecycle Management, Federal Sponsor Guidelines (NIH, NSF, DoD), Budget Development & Justification, Financial Reporting & Analysis, Regulatory Compliance, Sub-Award Management, Principal Investigator Liaison, Process Improvement
Publications
- Yuile, A.R., Kueser, J.B., Outzen, C., Christ, S., Stiegler, R., Adams, M., Brown, B., & Borovsky, A. (2025). Lexical leveraging across the vocabulary spectrum: Different semantic properties support delayed and advanced learners. Proceedings of the Cognitive Science Society.
- Kueser, J. B., Outzen, C., Adams, M. C., Brown, B., Christ, S., Stiegler, R., & Borovsky, A. (in press). Vocabulary size and structure affect semantic competition in 18-month-olds. Developmental Psychology.
Timeline
Grants and Contracts Manager
Purdue University, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
09.2022 - Current
Research Lab Manager
Purdue University, Language Learning and Meaning Acquisition Lab
01.2021 - 10.2022
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant
Head To Toe Kids Therapy
04.2019 - 12.2021
Behavioral Therapist
Behavioral Analysis Support Services
03.2019 - 03.2020
Post-Baccalaureate studies - Communication Science & Disorders
University of South Florida
Bachelor of Science - Cognitive Psychology
University of South Florida
Master of Science - Educational Psychology
Purdue University