# openalex-mcp-server Puts the OpenAlex catalog a prompt away: over 270M works, plus authors, sources, institutions and topics. Handy when you need literature search or one-hop citation walks without leaving the chat. - MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 16 - Author: cyanheads - License: Apache-2.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author - Source: https://github.com/cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server - Updated: 2026-10-23 - HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/openalex-mcp-server ## What it does Five tools cover the ground. `openalex_search_entities` queries and filters all eight entity types by ID or keyword; `openalex_analyze_trends` runs group-by aggregations; `openalex_resolve_name` turns a name or an identifier such as a DOI, ORCID, ROR, PMID or ISSN into an OpenAlex ID; `openalex_get_citation_graph` steps one hop along `cites`, `cited_by` or `related_to`; `openalex_describe_fields` lists the filter and group_by names an entity type accepts. Two prompts bundle the workflow: a systematic literature review and a research-landscape analysis. Either connect over Streamable HTTP to the hosted endpoint `https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp`, or run it locally through `npx -y @cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server` on STDIO. The local route reads `OPENALEX_API_KEY`, `OPENALEX_MAILTO`, `OPENALEX_BASE_URL`, `OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE` and `OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT`. Filter syntax is where it bites. You may pass a record object or a native string like `issn:0920-8542`. A single value that combines `|` with an AND operator gets rejected as `mixed_and_or_in_filter_value`, so split the AND into its own key. Unquoted values also need matching double quotes. ## Requirements - Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx) - Remote server: `https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp` - Environment variables: `OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE`, `OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT`, `OPENALEX_API_KEY`, `OPENALEX_MAILTO`, `OPENALEX_BASE_URL`, `MCP_LOG_LEVEL`, `MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE`, `MCP_HTTP_HOST`, `MCP_HTTP_PORT`, `MCP_HTTP_ENDPOINT_PATH` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files. ## Install ### Claude Code (native platform) 1. **Platform CLI: remote server** ```bash claude mcp add --transport http openalex-mcp-server https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp ``` 2. **Platform CLI** ```bash claude mcp add --env OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE= --env OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT= --env OPENALEX_API_KEY= --env OPENALEX_MAILTO= --env OPENALEX_BASE_URL= --transport stdio openalex-mcp-server -- npx -y @cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server ``` Replace <…> with your own values. 6 more environment variables are in the server README ### Codex 1. **Platform CLI: remote server** ```bash codex mcp add openalex-mcp-server --url https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp ``` 2. **Platform CLI** ```bash codex mcp add openalex-mcp-server --env OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE= --env OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT= --env OPENALEX_API_KEY= --env OPENALEX_MAILTO= --env OPENALEX_BASE_URL= -- npx -y @cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server ``` Replace <…> with your own values. 6 more environment variables are in the server README ### Cursor **Config file** File `.cursor/mcp.json`: ```json { "mcpServers": { "openalex-mcp-server": { "url": "https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp" } } } ``` File `.cursor/mcp.json`: ```json { "mcpServers": { "openalex-mcp-server": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server" ], "env": { "OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE": "", "OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT": "", "OPENALEX_API_KEY": "", "OPENALEX_MAILTO": "", "OPENALEX_BASE_URL": "" } } } } ``` Replace <…> with your own values. 6 more environment variables are in the server README ### GitHub Copilot **Config file** File `.vscode/mcp.json`: ```json { "servers": { "openalex-mcp-server": { "type": "http", "url": "https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp" } } } ``` File `.vscode/mcp.json`: ```json { "servers": { "openalex-mcp-server": { "type": "stdio", "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server" ], "env": { "OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE": "", "OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT": "", "OPENALEX_API_KEY": "", "OPENALEX_MAILTO": "", "OPENALEX_BASE_URL": "" } } } } ``` Replace <…> with your own values. 6 more environment variables are in the server README ### Gemini CLI 1. **Platform CLI: remote server** ```bash gemini mcp add -t http openalex-mcp-server https://openalex.caseyjhand.com/mcp ``` 2. **Platform CLI** ```bash gemini mcp add -e OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE= -e OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT= -e OPENALEX_API_KEY= -e OPENALEX_MAILTO= -e OPENALEX_BASE_URL= openalex-mcp-server npx -y @cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server ``` Replace <…> with your own values. 6 more environment variables are in the server README ## When to use it - find recent open-access papers on a topic - map a DOI or ORCID to its canonical OpenAlex ID - see which works cite a given paper - aggregate publication counts by institution - run a literature review on an unfamiliar field ## Example prompts - Search openalex-mcp-server for papers on graph neural networks with open access and a recent year filter - Resolve the DOI `10.1038/nature14539` to its OpenAlex ID and show what cites it - Group publications by institution for the topic graph neural networks ## Similar - [Zotero MCP](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/zotero-mcp.md) — MCP server · ★ 5548 - [arxiv-mcp-server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/arxiv-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 3231 - [PaperBanana](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/paperbanana.md) — MCP server · ★ 2417 - [MATLAB MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/matlab-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 1716 - [Hex Research](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/hex-research.md) — MCP server · ★ 583 - [DocsAgent — Zotero, Obsidian & Apple Notes MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/docsagent-zotero-obsidian-apple-notes-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 578 --- NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. 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