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Academic Research
by
rogerSuperBuilderAlpha
· GitHub ↗
· v1.0.0
7001
Downloads
3
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0
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1
Versions
Install in OpenClaw
/install academic-research
Description
Search academic papers and conduct literature reviews using OpenAlex API (free, no key needed). Use when the user needs to find scholarly papers by topic/aut...
Usage Guidance
Review this skill before installing if you handle sensitive or proprietary research topics. Expect searches and DOIs to be sent to OpenAlex, and deep-read lookups to Unpaywall. Generated Markdown reviews include a Topanga link by default, and the cache should be moved to a private per-user directory before use on shared systems.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: academic-research
Version: 1.0.0
The skill's core functionality aligns with its stated purpose of academic research using OpenAlex and Unpaywall APIs. However, the `scripts/literature-review.py` script contains a significant file write vulnerability. The `--output` argument allows writing the generated literature review to an arbitrary file path (`Path(args.output).write_text(output)`). If an attacker can control this argument (e.g., via prompt injection against the OpenClaw agent), they could write to sensitive system files or user configuration files, potentially leading to privilege escalation or persistence. This is a critical vulnerability, but not evidence of intentional malice within the script itself.
Capability Assessment
Credentials
Network access to scholarly APIs is purpose-aligned, and output writes are user-directed, but the literature-review cache uses a predictable shared /tmp path without ownership, symlink, or atomic-write protections.
Install Mechanism
No install hook, package manager script, startup modification, or hidden setup behavior was found; the artifact contains a skill file and two Python helper scripts.
Instruction Scope
The trigger language is broad for academic search and research synthesis, and the documentation does not clearly disclose all outbound data flows, including Unpaywall DOI lookup and the hard-coded contact email sent with API requests.
Persistence & Privilege
No privilege escalation, credential theft, background worker, or system persistence was found; only a 24-hour local API-response cache persists under /tmp/litreview_cache.
Purpose & Capability
OpenAlex search, DOI lookup, citation lookup, and literature-review generation fit the stated academic-research purpose, but generated Markdown reviews always include a Topanga promotional attribution and external link that is not needed for the user's research output.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install academic-research - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/academic-research - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v1.0.0
- Initial release of the academic-research skill, enabling academic search and literature review via the OpenAlex API.
- Search and retrieve scholarly papers by topic, author, or DOI without requiring an API key.
- Access citation chains, paper metadata (title, authors, abstract, citations, DOI, open access URL), and full text for open access articles.
- Automated literature review workflow with theme identification, synthesis, and markdown or JSON output.
- Structured and programmable search output, supporting advanced filtering and export options for research analysis.
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Academic Research?
Search academic papers and conduct literature reviews using OpenAlex API (free, no key needed). Use when the user needs to find scholarly papers by topic/aut... It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 7001 downloads so far.
How do I install Academic Research?
Run "/install academic-research" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is Academic Research free?
Yes, Academic Research is completely free (open-source). You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does Academic Research support?
Academic Research is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created Academic Research?
It is built and maintained by rogerSuperBuilderAlpha (@rogersuperbuilderalpha); the current version is v1.0.0.
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