scientific-papers-to-dataset

Extract experimental data from academic PDFs into JSON datasets via OpenAlex queries.

22|2|Updated Dec 17, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/eamag/papers2dataset --skill scientific-papers-to-dataset
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: scientific-papers-to-dataset
Source: https://github.com/eamag/papers2dataset/tree/main/skill
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/eamag/papers2dataset --skill scientific-papers-to-dataset

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

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

What problem does it solve?

Many research questions require structured experimental data that exist only scattered across academic papers and PDFs, and manually finding, downloading, filtering, and extracting these results is slow and error-prone. This Skill automates discovery, PDF retrieval, relevance filtering, data extraction, and citation traversal so users can assemble reproducible datasets from the literature.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Automated Paper Discovery: Query OpenAlex to find seed works and batch-fetch metadata and IDs.
  • Robust PDF Retrieval: Attempt PDF downloads from OpenAlex locations, bioRxiv, and Unpaywall with rate limiting and fallbacks.
  • Relevance Filtering & Extraction Pipeline: Use a queue-based BFS workflow with relevance checks and a thinking-model-driven extractor to produce per-paper JSON outputs.
  • Use Case: Create a dataset of compound toxicity measurements by searching OpenAlex, downloading accessible PDFs, extracting experimental values into structured JSON, and expanding via cited and citing works.

Quick Start

Create a new project by describing the dataset you want, run the initial OpenAlex search to seed the queue, then process the queue to download PDFs, filter relevance, and extract structured JSON data.

Frequently Asked Questions about scientific-papers-to-dataset

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I extract experimental data from academic PDFs into a structured dataset?

To extract experimental data from academic PDFs into a structured dataset, this Skill queries OpenAlex, batch-downloads accessible PDFs with fallbacks, and runs a relevance-filtered extraction pipeline to output structured JSON files. It uses queue-based BFS traversal to handle citation graphs.

What is the best way to automate literature review and citation graph traversal?

Automating literature review and citation graph traversal is best handled by querying OpenAlex for seed works, then using a queue-based BFS workflow to process citing and cited works. This approach applies relevance filtering and polite rate limiting to gather research-grade metadata.

Can I use OpenAlex and Unpaywall to download PDFs for automated dataset creation?

Yes, you can use OpenAlex and Unpaywall to download PDFs for automated dataset creation. This Skill attempts robust PDF retrieval from OpenAlex locations, bioRxiv, and Unpaywall with multiple fallbacks and polite rate limiting to ensure reliable access.

How does automated PDF extraction work for building research-grade datasets?

Automated PDF extraction for building research-grade datasets works by downloading scholarly PDFs, applying relevance checks, and using a thinking-model-driven extractor to parse experimental values. It aggregates these structured outputs into per-project JSON data suitable for downstream analysis.

Do I need httpx to run automated data extraction from scholarly papers?

Yes, you need the httpx library installed to run automated data extraction from scholarly papers. This Skill relies on httpx to handle HTTP requests for querying OpenAlex, downloading PDFs with fallbacks, and performing polite rate-limited retrieval operations.