ALMA — Alma College is staking a claim in the landscape of academic publishing with a new, online, peer-reviewed platform focused on undergraduate and early-stage trainee research, the Journal of Integrative Physiology (JIP).

The Journal is spearheaded by Karen Ball, the Charles A. Dana Professor of Integrative Physiology and Health Science (IPHS), and Maurie Luetkemeier, a retired professor and IPHS department chair. Published via Alma’s Digital Commons platform, the journal stands out not just for what it publishes, but who it aims to serve.

“Our mission is to help students understand the publication process,” said Luetkemeier, a founding editorial board member. “This is how new knowledge is disseminated — and it’s vital that students begin engaging with it early.”

The Journal isn’t a typical scholarly publication. At its core, it’s a pedagogical tool. The process of submission, peer review, and revision is designed to walk students through each phase of academic publishing. Each submitted manuscript authored by a student must be reviewed by another student peer, guided by a mentor.

“It’s a unique, intentional structure,” Ball explained. “Not only are students publishing, but they’re also learning to critique and evaluate science in a structured, supportive way.”

The editorial board, composed of eight experienced faculty members from institutions across the U.S., reflects this dual focus on research quality and mentorship.

“They’re not only well-published scholars,” Ball noted, “but they’re also deeply committed to mentoring. Many of them were shaped by great mentors themselves.” Among them is Jillian Simon, an Alma College graduate and former researcher at Oxford, now on faculty at Temple University.

The Journal was inspired, in part, by the International Journal of Exercise Science out of Western Kentucky University, which provided a publication outlet for exercise science projects often too small in scale for major journals.

“We saw what they were doing and realized physiology didn’t have anything quite like it,” said Luetkemeier. “So we reached out, and they were incredibly supportive in helping us get started.”

What makes Journal particularly impactful is its focus on “in-between” research — studies that might not meet the scope or rigor of high-impact journals but are still scientifically valuable.

“There’s a lot of solid student research that gets presented at a conference and then disappears,” Ball said. “This journal makes sure it doesn’t end there.”

The publication’s scope is intentionally broad. Integrative physiology, as defined by the editorial team, spans cellular and molecular mechanisms, organ systems, and even anatomical and population-level studies. This inclusivity opens doors for interdisciplinary student work, which Ball sees as aligned with liberal arts values.

The Digital Commons, the publishing platform used by Alma College, has been instrumental in the journal’s formation. Not only does it handle submissions and peer review logistics, but it also provides visibility: every time someone accesses a JIP article, the system logs the location, creating a real-time global map of readership:

“Eventually we’ll have thousands of hits,” Luetkemeier said. “Each one a reminder of what our students are capable of.”

For now, the journal plans to publish annually, with a goal of 10 articles per issue. Future enhancements include publishing reviewer feedback and manuscript revisions as educational tools in research methods classes. Ball and Luetkemeier hope this is just the beginning.

“Imagine if every department had a journal,” Ball said. “We’ve proven it’s possible. And it’s a great way to showcase Alma’s academic rigor.”

The Journal’s first article, titled “Using a Cadaveric Model of Lumbar Scoliosis to Determine Optimal Patient Positioning for Reliable Bone Mineral Density Measures Using a Hologic DEXA Scanner,” was published in April. It was written by Caleb Schuring, a member of the Class of 2024, and Alex Montoye, associate professor and IPHS department chair.

“I’m going to be applying to physical therapy school this summer, and I anticipate this will come up in the interview process. It’s something distinctive about me, I think — other students have done research as undergraduates, but I’m one of only a few who can say they have been published,” Schuring said.

“My work has been edited and peer-reviewed by experts in the field. I’m grateful to Alma College for giving me that opportunity.”

For more information, visit digitalcommmons.alma.edu/jip.