paper-lookup

Query multiple scholarly APIs to retrieve papers, metadata, and citations.

321|26|Updated Mar 10, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/mkurman/tamux --skill paper-lookup-mkurman
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: paper-lookup
Source: https://github.com/mkurman/tamux/tree/main/skills/scientific-skills/paper-lookup
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/mkurman/tamux --skill paper-lookup-mkurman

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Finding scholarly papers across multiple databases can be time-consuming and error-prone. This skill automates cross-database searches and consolidates results from many sources.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Cross-database search across PubMed, PMC, bioRxiv, medRxiv, arXiv, OpenAlex, Crossref, Semantic Scholar, CORE, and Unpaywall to locate papers, preprints, and metadata.
  • Retrieve metadata, abstracts, citations, and open-access availability; fetch full text when available.
  • Return per-database raw responses and a provenance list of databases queried; supports DOI/PMID lookups and topic-based searches; handles zero results gracefully.

Quick Start

Provide your query (topic, DOI, or PMID) and I will query the best databases, fetch results, and return the citations.

Frequently Asked Questions about paper-lookup

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I search multiple paper databases at once for scholarly literature?▼

To search multiple paper databases at once, provide your query to consolidate raw responses and provenance lists across PubMed, Crossref, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, bioRxiv, medRxiv, arXiv, CORE, and Unpaywall.

Can I find open access papers using a DOI or PMID lookup?▼

Yes, you can find open access papers using DOI or PMID lookups by querying Unpaywall and other databases to retrieve abstracts, metadata, and open-access availability.

What is the best way to retrieve research preprints from arXiv and bioRxiv?▼

The best way to retrieve research preprints from arXiv and bioRxiv is to perform a cross-database topic search that returns raw responses and metadata from the appropriate REST API endpoints.

Does this approach handle rate limits when querying academic REST APIs?▼

Yes, querying academic REST APIs handles rate limits by gracefully managing empty results and reporting the specific databases used to ensure you know which sources returned data.

How do I get citations and metadata for a specific scholarly article?▼

To get citations and metadata for a specific scholarly article, execute a DOI or PMID lookup to fetch abstracts, citation data, and open-access availability across multiple queried databases.