Emily Beatty is a final year PhD student, participating in her first independent research project while at IPAM at UCLA. She describes the four-month program as “a test ride for what my research will look like after my PhD.” A highlight of her attendance was presenting her work to an audience of senior researchers that she developed new working relationships with. The Spring 2025 long program on Non-Commutative Optimal Transport allowed Emily to attend four week-long workshops, participate in working groups, and use office time to continue working on her PhD. By being accepted into the program a year before the start date, she was able to fulfill her teaching credits before taking time away from École Normale Supérieure de Lyon.