openalex

Search the OpenAlex API for academic paper metadata and citation graphs.

2|1|Updated Apr 19, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/raja21068/AutoResearch --skill openalex-raja21068
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: openalex
Source: https://github.com/raja21068/AutoResearch/tree/main/skills/aris/openalex
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/raja21068/AutoResearch --skill openalex-raja21068

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires requests.

What problem does it solve?

It helps you quickly locate relevant academic work and obtain rich, open citation-graph metadata (including affiliations, funding, and open-access status) beyond arXiv or Semantic Scholar coverage.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Open academic graph search: Retrieves comprehensive paper records from OpenAlex, including citation connectivity and detailed metadata.
  • Metadata-rich filtering: Narrows results by year ranges, work type (article/preprint/etc.), open-access availability, minimum citation counts, and sort order.
  • Use case: You need a grounded set of candidate papers for a literature section that includes institutional affiliations, funding sources, and open-access availability, not just titles and abstracts.
  • Cross-reference ready: Returns identifiers like DOI and OpenAlex ID so you can follow up with other skills (e.g., Semantic Scholar context or arXiv details).

Quick Start

Ask for open citation and affiliation-aware search results by saying: /openalex "machine learning for protein design" — max: 10 — sort: citations

Frequently Asked Questions about openalex

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I find academic papers with open-access status and funding metadata?

Open citation graph search retrieves comprehensive academic metadata including institutional affiliations, funding sources, and open-access availability. It uses the OpenAlex API to return structured JSON records with paper-level details across all disciplines.

Can I filter academic search results by citation count and publication year?

Yes, academic search results support filtering by year ranges, work types like articles or preprints, minimum citation counts, and open-access availability. You can also sort results and limit the number of returned records to refine your literature discovery.

What's the best way to get DOI and OpenAlex IDs for literature discovery?

Using open citation graph search returns structured JSON results containing identifiers like DOI and OpenAlex ID. These cross-reference ready identifiers let you follow up with other academic tools for deeper context or detailed paper analysis.

Does OpenAlex API search require any specific dependencies or setup?

OpenAlex API search requires the requests dependency to function. The skill needs a query argument to search the open citation graph and optionally supports filters for year, work type, open access, citations, limits, and sorting.

Why use open citation graph search instead of arXiv or Semantic Scholar?

Open citation graph search provides comprehensive paper records beyond arXiv or Semantic Scholar coverage. It retrieves rich metadata including citation connectivity, institutional affiliations, funding information, and open-access status across all academic disciplines.

How do I retrieve structured JSON metadata for academic papers?

Provide a search query to retrieve structured JSON metadata from the OpenAlex API. The results include comprehensive paper records with affiliations, funding details, citation counts, and identifiers suitable for literature reviews and academic research.