# research-lookup

> Look up current research information using parallel-cli search, the Parallel Chat API for deep research, or Perplexity sonar-pro-search for academic paper searches — automatically routing queries to the best backend.

**Use case**: Auto-routing research search across web and academic backends

**Canonical URL**: https://agentcookbooks.com/skills/research-lookup/

**Topics**: claude-code, skills, science, scientific-writing

**Trigger phrases**: "look up research on", "find current information about", "search academic papers on", "deep research on", "verify this scientific claim"

**Source**: [K-Dense AI](https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills/tree/main/scientific-skills/research-lookup)

**License**: MIT

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## What it does

`research-lookup` is a Claude Code skill from K-Dense AI's [scientific-agent-skills repo](https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills). It turns Claude into a research router that automatically selects the fastest, most appropriate backend for any research query: `parallel-cli` for quick web searches, the Parallel Chat API for deep multi-source research reports, or Perplexity sonar-pro-search for academic paper queries.

A session produces sourced answers — not memory-based responses. The routing logic means you don't have to decide which backend to use; the skill picks based on query type and available credentials.

## When to use it

Reach for it when:

- You want to verify a scientific claim with current sources rather than relying on Claude's training data
- You need a quick factual answer grounded in live web or academic sources
- You're inside another skill (e.g., `scientific-writing` or `literature-review`) and need a fast sub-query for current data

When *not* to reach for it:

- Systematic literature reviews with documented search methodology — use `literature-review`
- Direct database queries with specific DOI/PMID lookups — use `paper-lookup`

## Install

Copy the `SKILL.md` from K-Dense AI's [research-lookup folder](https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills/tree/main/scientific-skills/research-lookup) into `.claude/skills/research-lookup/` in your project. Requires `parallel-cli` for the primary backend; `PARALLEL_API_KEY` and `OPENROUTER_API_KEY` are optional for deep research and academic modes.

Trigger phrases: "look up research on", "find current information about", "search academic papers on", "deep research on".

## What a session looks like

A typical session has three phases:

1. **Query classification.** Claude determines whether the query is a quick factual lookup, a deep research question, or an academic literature search, and selects the appropriate backend.
2. **Retrieval.** The selected backend runs the search — fast web for quick lookups, multi-source deep research for comprehensive questions, Perplexity academic for paper searches.
3. **Sourced output.** Results are returned with source links and publication context. For deep research mode, a structured report with citations is generated.

## Receipts

**Where it works well:**
- Fact-checking statistical claims in manuscripts — quick web mode returns current figures with sources
- Sub-queries from within other skills, where a targeted lookup is needed mid-workflow without switching context

**Where it backfires:**
- Without `parallel-cli` installed, the primary backend is unavailable and the skill falls back to slower alternatives
- Deep research mode can be verbose — useful for reports but overkill for simple factual queries

**Pattern that works:** this skill is most valuable as a component called by other skills (`scientific-writing`, `market-research-reports`) rather than standalone; its auto-routing saves context-switching when the right backend isn't obvious.

## Source and attribution

Originally authored by [K-Dense Inc.](https://github.com/K-Dense-AI). The canonical SKILL.md lives in the [`research-lookup` folder](https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills/tree/main/scientific-skills/research-lookup) of their public scientific-agent-skills repository.

License: MIT. Install, adapt, and redistribute with attribution preserved.

This page documents the skill from a practitioner's perspective. For the formal spec and any updates, defer to the source repo.