Grace Porges, a senior marketing student at the University of Montana, has spent her summer working at the university’s Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS). Her internship involves promoting both the educational programs and scientific research conducted at the station.
The FLBS, founded in 1899, is one of the oldest research stations in the United States. It is located on Yellow Bay and consists of 60 buildings spread over 80 acres. The station focuses on studying Flathead Lake—the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the contiguous U.S.—and its surrounding ecosystems.
Porges’ work includes documenting and sharing stories about students and researchers at FLBS. She often joins staff on fieldwork, such as collecting snow algae samples in Glacier National Park or participating in water sampling aboard the Jessie B, a research vessel that has been with the station since 1989. During these outings, she takes photographs, conducts interviews, and assists with tasks like monitoring for invasive quagga mussels.
The quagga mussel monitoring program aims to detect any early signs of infestation in Flathead Lake. Phil Matson, who leads this effort, explained: “We want to find any detections as early as possible. It’s like cancer: The sooner we find it the better.” On recent field trips, Porges worked alongside Matson, research scientist Tyler Tappenbeck, and AmeriCorps volunteers as part of an early detection team.
After days in the field, Porges creates video content and graphic designs to promote FLBS online and within local communities. She also attends events to connect with business owners and residents.
Reflecting on her experience so far, Porges said: “I kind of came into this job not fully knowing what my day-to-day would look like and what to expect. And I’ve discovered my bosses have been extremely receptive to my ideas and supportive of my projects. So it has been a lot more independent than I thought it would be.”
Ian Withrow, marketing and communication manager at FLBS and Porges’ supervisor, praised her contributions: “We couldn’t be more impressed by the work Grace has done for us so far this summer. The interdisciplinary internships at FLBS are designed to provide interns with the real-world experiences and expectations that they’ll encounter when they take their careers beyond the academic environment. Grace has done an outstanding job using the tools and skills she’s been honing in the UM marketing department to make immediate impacts on the promotion of our programs and the relationships we have with our local communities.”
Withrow also credited philanthropic support for making internships like Porges’ possible. Bob Boyce established the marketing internship position in 2023.
“Grace has been a wonderful and creative marketing talent, with that authentic student perspective,” Withrow added.
Porges credits faculty mentors Justin Angle and Jesse King from UM’s College of Business for guiding her interests toward sustainability in business—a focus she hopes to pursue after graduation by working with outdoor or technical gear brands committed to sustainable practices.
She described her time living at FLBS as valuable not only professionally but personally: “It’s been so much fun,” she said. “Everyone naturally comes together to relax and enjoy each other’s company – we spend a lot of time swimming, camping, and taking trips to Bigfork for ice cream. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of it all.”
