# OmniScholar

An MCP server for literature search, Zotero reading, PDF analysis, citations, and research materials. Use it when an agent needs a research workflow.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 6
- Author: luffysolution-svg
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/luffysolution-svg/omnischolar
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/omnischolar

## What it does

OmniScholar gives an agent 39 tools for research work. It can search Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, PubMed/PMC, arXiv, Crossref, Unpaywall, easyScholar, Google Scholar, and Google Patents. It also retrieves paper details, author data, references, citing papers, datasets, and journal metrics. Zotero content is read without changing the library, while Materials Project records can be exported as JSON, CSV, Markdown, or CIF.

After your approval, a selected PDF is sent to MinerU to extract prose, formulas, tables, and images. The server can use that material for focused or full analysis, save notes to a regular folder or an Obsidian Vault, check citation candidates, and call a configured image service for scientific diagrams. Python 3.11 or newer is required to run the server.

The MCP process runs locally through `uvx`. Service credentials go into `omnischolar.config.json` or an environment variable, and services that need them require an API key. PDF uploads to MinerU require confirmation first; Zotero remains read-only.

## Requirements
- Needs: Python and uv (commands run via uvx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add omnischolar -- uvx luffysolution-omnischolar
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from luffysolution-omnischolar <command>

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add omnischolar -- uvx luffysolution-omnischolar
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from luffysolution-omnischolar <command>

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "omnischolar": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "luffysolution-omnischolar"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from luffysolution-omnischolar <command>

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "omnischolar": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "luffysolution-omnischolar"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from luffysolution-omnischolar <command>

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add omnischolar uvx luffysolution-omnischolar
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from luffysolution-omnischolar <command>

## When to use it
- search scientific papers across several indexes
- combine Zotero notes and annotations without editing the library
- extract formulas, tables, images, and text from a PDF
- verify citation candidates and format references
- export Materials Project records to CSV or CIF

## Example prompts
- Find 5 recent reviews about solid-state battery interfaces, deduplicate them by DOI, and list open-access versions.
- Search my Zotero library for this DOI, summarize its notes and annotations, and leave the library unchanged.
- After I approve the upload, process this PDF with MinerU and save the reading notes to my Obsidian Vault.

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