API Integrations

A curated list of potential APIs that could be integrated to enhance the capabilities of this research assistant.

Academic Search & Data APIs

Semantic Scholar API

Purpose

Retrieve academic papers, abstracts, citations, authors, and metadata.

Strengths

Free and extensive database (~200M+ papers). Citation graph and related paper recommendations.

Use Cases

Auto-generate literature reviews, citation networks.

CrossRef REST API

Purpose

Access DOIs, article metadata, references, and journal information.

Strengths

Authoritative DOI registration body. Supports reverse-lookup from citations.

Use Cases

Automating reference lists and bibliography verification.

Scopus API (Elsevier)

Purpose

Query peer-reviewed articles and citation metrics.

Strengths

Author profiles, h-index, affiliations. Abstracts and references from 24,000+ journals.

Use Cases

Academic impact analysis, citation mapping.

Limitations

Paid subscription required.

PubMed E-Utilities

Purpose

Search biomedical and life sciences literature.

Strengths

Free access to MEDLINE database. Supports bulk downloading.

Use Cases

Medical/scientific literature reviews.

OpenAlex API

Purpose

Open alternative to Microsoft Academic Graph.

Strengths

Free, open-source, covers 250M+ works. Data-rich: institutions, concepts, authors, and venues.

Use Cases

Bibliometrics, academic network analysis.

Citation & Reference Management APIs

Zotero Web API

Purpose

Manage references, collections, and bibliographies.

Strengths

Open-source, integrates with word processors. Supports JSON for reference data.

Use Cases

Automated bibliography generation.

Mendeley API

Purpose

Access reference libraries and research metadata.

Strengths

PDF annotations and personal library access.

Limitations

Requires Elsevier account.

Writing & Grammar APIs

Grammarly API (Business Integration)

Purpose

Grammar, style, and tone suggestions.

Strengths

Real-time error detection and readability scoring.

Limitations

Limited access; usually embedded in partner apps.

ProWritingAid API

Purpose

Grammar, structure, and plagiarism checks.

Strengths

Detailed readability and academic style reports.

Plagiarism Checking APIs

Turnitin Draft Coach API (Institutional Access)

Purpose

Plagiarism detection, similarity index, source matching.

Strengths

Industry-standard similarity detection.

Limitations

Institutional license required.

Copyleaks API

Purpose

Plagiarism detection and AI-content detection.

Strengths

Supports multiple document formats and real-time API calls.

Data Visualization & Analysis APIs

Plotly or Matplotlib (Python-based APIs)

Purpose

Generate academic charts and graphs.

Strengths

Supports scientific visualisations (scatter, box, regression plots).

Tableau REST API

Purpose

Automate dashboards and export visual analytics into reports.

Strengths

Document Creation & Formatting APIs

Overleaf LaTeX API

Purpose

Programmatically create LaTeX academic reports.

Strengths

Perfect for journals requiring LaTeX templates.

Docx4j or Pandoc API

Purpose

Convert reports between Word, LaTeX, and PDF programmatically.

Strengths

AI-Powered Summarisation & Research Assist APIs

OpenAI GPT (via ChatGPT API)

Purpose

Summarisation, paraphrasing, structured academic drafting.

Strengths

Use Cases

Generate abstracts, refine academic language.

Scholarcy API

Purpose

Automatically summarises research papers and highlights key findings.

Strengths

Best Combined Stack (for Full Workflow)

Data Retrieval

OpenAlex / Semantic Scholar API.

Citations

CrossRef + Zotero API.

Plagiarism

Copyleaks or Turnitin API.

Drafting & Grammar

GPT API + Grammarly API.

Output

Overleaf LaTeX API or Pandoc for PDF/Word.