Scholar Sidekick Mcp

What is Scholar Sidekick MCP?

Scholar Sidekick MCP is an MCP server that resolves scholarly identifiers (DOI, PMID, PMCID, ISBN, arXiv, ISSN, NASA ADS bibcode, WHO IRIS URL) into structured metadata and formatted citations. It offers 10,000+ CSL citation styles, nine export formats, and integrity checks for retractions, open-access status, and citation fabrication. It is designed for AI assistants that need to handle academic references.

How to use Scholar Sidekick MCP?

Install via npx -y scholar-sidekick-mcp@latest and configure in your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf) with optional environment variables for API keys. Alternatively, connect any HTTP-capable MCP client directly to the hosted endpoint at https://scholar-sidekick.com/api/mcp (no local install required). Use the six tools—resolveIdentifier, formatCitation, exportCitation, checkRetraction, checkOpenAccess, verifyCitation—by prompting your AI assistant with identifiers or citation requests.

Key features of Scholar Sidekick MCP

• Resolves eight identifier types, including rare WHO IRIS URLs.
• Batch processing: accepts comma- or newline-separated lists.
• 10,000+ CSL citation styles with alias and dependent-style resolution.
• Nine export formats: BibTeX, RIS, CSL JSON, EndNote, RefWorks, MEDLINE, Zotero RDF, CSV, plain text.
• Retraction and open-access checks via Crossref/Retraction Watch and Unpaywall.
• Citation-fabrication detection that catches real DOI + invented title patterns.
• Provenance metadata (formatter, style, requestId, warnings) on every response.
• Works anonymously with a rate-limited free tier; optional first-party or RapidAPI keys.

Use cases of Scholar Sidekick MCP

• Formatting a single identifier into a specific citation style (e.g., APA, Vancouver).
• Building a full bibliography from a list of identifiers in one prompt.
• Checking whether a paper has been retracted or has expressions of concern.
• Verifying a claimed citation against the actual record to detect fabrication.
• Exporting a set of references in BibTeX or RIS for a reference manager.

FAQ from Scholar Sidekick MCP

What identifier types are supported?

DOIs, PMIDs, PMCIDs, ISBNs, arXiv IDs, ISSNs, NASA ADS bibcodes, and WHO IRIS URLs are all supported.

Do I need an API key to use Scholar Sidekick MCP?

No key is required; the server works anonymously against the public Scholar Sidekick API with a rate-limited free tier. Optionally, create a free first-party ssk_ key for higher limits, or use a RapidAPI key for paid/managed tiers.

What is the difference between the stdio package and the hosted HTTP endpoint?

The stdio package (npx -y scholar-sidekick-mcp@latest) runs locally and is the path for RapidAPI-keyed users. The hosted HTTP endpoint at https://scholar-sidekick.com/api/mcp requires no install and works with any HTTP-capable MCP client; both offer the same six tools.

How does citation fabrication detection work?

The verifyCitation tool cross-checks a claimed citation against the resolved record at its identifier, detecting the pattern of a real DOI combined with an invented title—a common AI-driven fabrication that identifier resolution alone cannot catch. It returns a verdict (matched, mismatch, ambiguous, not_found) plus per-field similarity scores.

Can I batch process multiple identifiers at once?

Yes, every tool accepts a single identifier or a comma- or newline-separated list. The server normalises the list and resolves them in one round trip.