openalex-database

Query and analyze scholarly literature via the OpenAlex database API.

Updated Mar 15, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/sagunkayastha/claude_skills_collection --skill openalex-database-sagunkayastha
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: openalex-database
Source: https://github.com/sagunkayastha/claude_skills_collection/tree/main/scientific-communication/openalex-database
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/sagunkayastha/claude_skills_collection --skill openalex-database-sagunkayastha

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires requests, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps researchers and analysts efficiently search, analyze, and extract data from the vast OpenAlex scholarly database, overcoming the challenges of manual literature review and data retrieval.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Literature Search: Find academic papers by keywords, authors, institutions, and topics.
  • Bibliometric Analysis: Analyze citation counts, publication trends, and research output.
  • Data Extraction: Retrieve structured data for large-scale analysis or specific research needs.
  • Use Case: A researcher needs to find all highly cited papers on "quantum computing" published after 2020, filter them for open access, and export their titles and citation counts to a CSV file.

Quick Start

Use the openalex-database skill to find the top 10 most cited works by the author "Albert Einstein".

Frequently Asked Questions about openalex-database

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search for academic papers by author and filter for open access publications?

To search for academic papers by author and filter for open access publications, use the OpenAlex database API to query works by specific authors and apply open access filters to retrieve matching scholarly literature titles.

Can I perform bibliometric analysis and track citation counts across multiple institutions using the OpenAlex API?

Yes, you can perform bibliometric analysis and track citation counts across institutions using the OpenAlex API to retrieve structured data, analyze research output trends, and identify highly cited works from over 240 million scholarly records.

How do I extract scholarly literature data into a structured format for large-scale research analysis?

You can extract scholarly literature data into a structured format for large-scale research analysis by sending queries through the OpenAlex API using the Python requests library to retrieve and parse academic publication records.

What is the best way to find highly cited works on a specific topic published after a certain year?

The best way to find highly cited works on a specific topic published after a certain year is querying the OpenAlex database API with topic keywords, publication year filters, and sorting results by citation counts.

Do I need the Python requests library to query the OpenAlex database for research trends?

Yes, you need the Python requests library to query the OpenAlex database for research trends, as it handles the HTTP API interactions required to fetch bibliometric data and academic publication records.

What are the limitations of using OpenAlex for academic data extraction and citation tracking?

Limitations of using OpenAlex for academic data extraction and citation tracking include relying entirely on the API's coverage of over 240 million works and potential rate limits during large-scale bibliometric data retrieval requests.