paper-discover

Search Semantic Scholar for academic papers ranked by vault relevance.

36|2|Updated Mar 21, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/tuan3w/obsidian-vault-agent --skill paper-discover
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: paper-discover
Source: https://github.com/tuan3w/obsidian-vault-agent/tree/main/skills/paper-discover
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/tuan3w/obsidian-vault-agent --skill paper-discover

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires python3, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps you discover academic papers relevant to a topic, an existing vault note, or an uncovered research gap—so you stop guessing what to read next.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Topic and query discovery: Searches Semantic Scholar for papers matching your topic or question and returns ranked results.
  • Vault-aware similarity: Uses an existing vault note or DOI/paper identity to find related work and avoid redundant duplicates.
  • Triage-ready output: Ranks relevance against your vault knowledge first, then (optionally) creates properly formatted paper notes for user approval.

Quick Start

Run paper discovery for your research question by asking: find papers about scaling laws for LLMs.

Frequently Asked Questions about paper-discover

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I find relevant academic papers for my literature review?

To find relevant academic papers, this Skill queries Semantic Scholar with your research topic and returns a ranked list of matching literature. It prioritizes results by relevance to your specific query.

Can I find papers similar to one I already have using a DOI?

Yes, you can find similar papers using a DOI or paper ID. The Skill uses your existing vault note or DOI to generate similar-paper recommendations while checking your vault to avoid redundant duplicates.

How do I identify research gaps in my existing knowledge base?

To identify research gaps in your knowledge base, this Skill checks your vault for current coverage and surfaces uncovered topics. It then recommends literature to fill those specific missing areas.

Does this paper search tool require Python 3 to run?

Yes, this paper search tool requires Python 3 to run, as it depends on Python scripts to execute Semantic Scholar API queries and process the relevance ranking logic within your vault.

How does the Skill handle duplicate paper detection in my vault?

Duplicate paper detection works by checking your existing vault notes before returning search results. It ranks new literature against your current vault knowledge to prevent redundant entries and avoid repeating covered topics.

Will the Skill automatically create notes for the papers it finds?

No, the Skill will not automatically create notes for found papers. It only generates properly formatted paper notes for your vault after you explicitly review and approve the recommended search results.