paper-lookup

Search academic databases for papers and return metadata, citation graphs, and open access status.

3|Updated Apr 17, 2026

Search Tags:#search #metadata #academic databases #access #scholarly papers

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/RamanEbrahimi/raman-marketplace --skill paper-lookup-ramanebrahimi

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: paper-lookup
Source: https://github.com/RamanEbrahimi/raman-marketplace/tree/main/plugins/agentic-research/skills/scientific-skills/paper-lookup
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/RamanEbrahimi/raman-marketplace --skill paper-lookup-ramanebrahimi

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires NCBI_API_KEY, CORE_API_KEY, S2_API_KEY, OPENALEX_API_KEY, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) and assets (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill simplifies the process of searching for and accessing scholarly papers, providing a unified interface to multiple academic databases.

Core Features & Use Cases

Multi-Database Search: Access 10 academic paper databases including PubMed, PMC, bioRxiv, arXiv, OpenAlex, Crossref, Semantic Scholar, CORE, Unpaywall.
Search by Identifier: Look up papers by DOI, PMID, arXiv ID, OpenAlex ID, Semantic Scholar ID, ORCID, and ISSN.
Citation Graphs and Author Searches: Explore citation networks and find papers by author.
Open Access Retrieval: Check the availability of open access copies and retrieve full text when available.
Use Case: When you need to find a specific research paper or review the latest studies in a field, this skill can help you efficiently locate the resources you need.

Quick Start

Use the paper-lookup skill to search for a paper by DOI '10.1038/nature12373'.

Frequently Asked Questions about paper-lookup

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

FAQPage Schema

How do I search for scholarly papers across multiple academic databases at once?▼

You can search scholarly papers across multiple academic databases by querying up to 10 sources including PubMed, arXiv, and OpenAlex. The search returns structured metadata, citation graphs, and open access status. It handles various identifier formats like DOI and PMID.

Can I look up research papers using a DOI or arXiv ID?▼

Yes, you can look up research papers using a DOI, arXiv ID, PMID, OpenAlex ID, Semantic Scholar ID, ORCID, or ISSN. The system accepts these various identifier formats to retrieve structured results and raw API responses from the queried databases.

Do I need API keys to access academic databases like Semantic Scholar and CORE?▼

Yes, you need API keys to access some academic databases like Semantic Scholar, CORE, NCBI, and OpenAlex. These keys are required dependencies for retrieving metadata, checking open access status, and generating citation graphs from the queried sources.

What's the best way to find open access copies of research papers?▼

The best way to find open access copies is to search databases like Unpaywall and OpenAlex. The system checks the availability of open access copies and retrieves the full text when available, returning the open access status alongside the structured metadata.

How does an academic citation graph search work for exploring related studies?▼

Academic citation graph searches work by querying databases like Semantic Scholar and OpenAlex to map citation networks. This allows you to explore related studies and find papers by specific authors, returning structured citation data and raw API responses.

Why does my paper lookup return raw API responses instead of structured metadata?▼

Your paper lookup returns both structured results and raw API responses to provide complete transparency. The structured metadata includes citation graphs and open access status, while the raw responses offer the direct database output for advanced analysis.