Academic Search MCP Server

Multi-source academic paper search MCP server for AI agents (Claude, Cursor, etc.).

Quick Start

Add to your MCP client config (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json, .cursor/mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "academic-search": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "academic-search-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY": "",
        "SCOPUS_API_KEY": "",
        "CORE_API_KEY": "",
        "IEEE_API_KEY": "",
        "WILEY_TDM_TOKEN": "",
        "OPENALEX_EMAIL": "",
        "UNPAYWALL_EMAIL": "",
        "GOOGLE_SCHOLAR_SERVICE_URL": ""
      }
    }
  }
}

Only fill in the API keys for sources you want to use. Sources without keys will be skipped automatically.

Supported Sources

| Source | Env Variable | Required | |--------|-------------|----------| | Semantic Scholar | SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY | Optional (higher rate limits) | | CrossRef | — | Free, no key needed | | OpenAlex | OPENALEX_EMAIL | Optional (faster with email) | | Scopus | SCOPUS_API_KEY | Required | | CORE | CORE_API_KEY | Required | | IEEE Xplore | IEEE_API_KEY | Required | | Wiley | WILEY_TDM_TOKEN | Required | | Google Scholar | GOOGLE_SCHOLAR_SERVICE_URL | Optional (Puppeteer service) | | arXiv | — | Free, no key needed | | Unpaywall | UNPAYWALL_EMAIL | Optional | | Sci-Hub | GOOGLE_SCHOLAR_SERVICE_URL | Optional (same Puppeteer service) |

MCP Tools

• search_papers — Search papers across multiple sources
• search_by_doi — Look up a paper by DOI
• get_paper_details — Get detailed metadata and abstract
• get_citations — Get papers that cite a given paper
• get_fulltext — Get full text via Scopus or CORE
• get_fulltext_link — Find open access PDF link (Unpaywall / Sci-Hub)
• get_author_info — Get author profile and stats
• check_sources — Check which sources are available

License

MIT