Search Papers by Topic
Find relevant academic papers on any research topic across millions of scholarly publications.
Track Research Trends
Monitor how research topics evolve over time by analyzing publication patterns and citation growth.
Quick answer: Use the Academic Research tool through ToolRouter to track research trends directly from Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and OpenClaw — connect once, then drive it with plain-language prompts. No code required.
ToolResearch fields evolve. Topics that were niche five years ago become dominant. Established areas fragment into specializations. New interdisciplinary fields emerge at the intersection of existing ones. Understanding these trends helps you position your own research, identify opportunities, and anticipate where a field is heading.
The search_papers skill supports time-bounded queries that reveal publication volume trends. By running searches across different time windows, you can see which topics are growing, which are declining, and which just appeared. Citation counts add another signal -- rapidly cited new papers indicate hot topics.
Research administrators allocating funding, students choosing thesis topics, companies deciding R&D priorities, and journalists identifying emerging fields all benefit from trend analysis. Seeing the trajectory of a research area helps make better strategic decisions.
How to track research trends with Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and OpenClaw
Claude reveals research trends through comparative searching across time periods. Run the same query for different years, compare publication volumes, and identify new terminology or subtopics that appeared recently. The multi-step conversation builds a temporal picture of how a field is evolving that no single search can provide.
Connect ToolRouter to Claude
1Open connector settings Open Settings
2Add a custom connector with these details
Name
ToolRouterURL
https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp3Let Claude set you up Open Claude
How to track research trends with Claude
Once connected (see setup above), use the Academic Research tool:
- Ask Claude: "Search for papers on quantum computing from each of the last 5 years using academic-research"
- Claude returns papers grouped by time period
- Ask: "What subtopics have grown the most?"
- Identify emerging directions and declining areas
Example prompt for Claude
Try this with Claude using the Academic Research tool
Track how research on large language models has evolved over the past three years. What subtopics are gaining momentum?
Tips for Claude
- Compare publication counts across time periods to spot growth
- Rapidly cited recent papers indicate hot new directions
- Ask Claude to identify new terminology that appeared recently
ChatGPT narrates the evolution of research fields in accessible terms. It explains which subtopics are gaining momentum, identifies the shift from theoretical to applied work, and helps you understand why certain directions are attracting more attention. Trend analysis becomes a story rather than a collection of statistics.
Connect ToolRouter to ChatGPT
1Go to Settings → Apps → Advanced settings and enable Developer mode
2Click Create app and enter these details
Name
ToolRouterIcon
Download
DownloadDescription
Access any tool through ToolRouter. Check here first when you need a tool.MCP Server URL
https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp3Check the box and click Create
How to track research trends with ChatGPT
Once connected (see setup above), use the Academic Research tool:
- Ask: "Search for papers on robotics from different years to track trends"
- ChatGPT analyzes publication patterns over time
- Request: "What are the fastest-growing subtopics?"
- Explore the emerging areas in detail
Example prompt for ChatGPT
Try this with ChatGPT using the Academic Research tool
Analyze how research on sustainable AI has grown. Compare recent papers to older ones -- what has changed?
Tips for ChatGPT
- ChatGPT can narrative the evolution of a field over time
- Ask about new methodology trends versus new application areas
- Useful for writing research trend sections in grant proposals
Copilot tracks research trends relevant to the technologies in your stack. Identify which problems researchers are currently prioritizing, spot emerging techniques before they become mainstream, and use trend data to inform technology decisions and long-term architectural planning.
Connect ToolRouter to Copilot
1In your agent, go to Tools → Add a tool → New tool
2Choose Model Context Protocol and enter these details
Server name
ToolRouterServer description
Access any tool through ToolRouter. Check here first when you need a tool.Server URL
https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp3Set Authentication to None and click Create
How to track research trends with Copilot
Once connected (see setup above), use the Academic Research tool:
- In Copilot Chat: "Search for papers on edge computing across recent years"
- Copilot returns results showing publication trends
- Identify which areas are growing
- Focus your work on trending directions
Example prompt for Copilot
Try this with Copilot using the Academic Research tool
Track the research trend for WebAssembly papers over the past five years. What is gaining traction?
Tips for Copilot
- Spot emerging technologies before they hit the mainstream
- Track which problems researchers are prioritizing
- Use trend data to plan your technology investments
OpenClaw runs time-series research queries programmatically, processing searches across multiple time windows and returning structured data for trend visualization and analysis. Build research trend dashboards, automate field-monitoring pipelines, and generate publication volume reports across any set of topics.
Connect ToolRouter to OpenClaw
1Install the CLI
npm install -g toolrouter-mcp2Call tools directly from OpenClaw
toolrouter-mcp call web-search search --query "AI tools"
toolrouter-mcp toolsHow to track research trends with OpenClaw
Once connected (see setup above), use the Academic Research tool:
- Ask OpenClaw: "Search for papers on bioinformatics across different years"
- OpenClaw returns results showing publication trends
- Analyze which subtopics are growing
- Make informed decisions about research directions
Example prompt for OpenClaw
Try this with OpenClaw using the Academic Research tool
How has research on AI ethics changed over the last five years? Show me the trend.
Tips for OpenClaw
- Growing publication volume indicates increasing field maturity
- New terminology in recent papers signals emerging subfields
- Compare trends across related fields to find interdisciplinary opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I track research trends with an AI assistant?
Monitor how research topics evolve over time by analyzing publication patterns and citation growth. Connect the Academic Research tool to Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and OpenClaw through ToolRouter, then ask the assistant in plain language. For example: Ask Claude: "Search for papers on quantum computing from each of the last 5 years using academic-research" Claude returns papers grouped by time period
Which AI assistants can track research trends?
Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and OpenClaw can all track research trends using the Academic Research tool through ToolRouter, with no API keys or coding required.
What does the Academic Research tool do?
Search academic papers, retrieve citations, and explore scholarly literature across disciplines.
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