# How to connect OpenAlex MCP with ChatGPT Work

```json
{
  "title": "How to connect OpenAlex MCP with ChatGPT Work",
  "toolkit": "OpenAlex",
  "toolkit_slug": "openalex",
  "framework": "ChatGPT Work",
  "framework_slug": "chatgpt",
  "url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/chatgpt",
  "markdown_url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/chatgpt.md",
  "updated_at": "2026-08-28T05:40:00.909Z"
}
```

## Introduction

### How to connect OpenAlex MCP with ChatGPT Work
[ChatGPT Work](https://openai.com/chatgpt-work/) is an agent inside ChatGPT built for your most ambitious work. It takes action across your apps and files, stays with a project for hours, and turns a goal into finished materials like sheets, slides, and docs - not just answers.
In this guide, I will explain the easiest and most secure way to connect your OpenAlex account to ChatGPT Work via Composio Connect, so it can search works, fetch author profiles, retrieve institution metadata, explore related topics, and pull citations through natural language commands without ever putting your account credentials at risk.

## Also integrate OpenAlex with

- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/hermes-agent)

## TL;DR

### Why use Composio over default connectors?
- Apps with read and write access. Default connectors mostly can read your data. Composio's OpenAlex integration lets ChatGPT Work take actions like creating drafts, sending updates, labeling records, and more.
- 1,000+ SaaS toolkits out of the box. Composio gives you instant access to a vast catalog of pre-built connectors, from Gmail and Slack to Notion, Linear, and Salesforce.
- One MCP server for every app. Connect any of your applications on demand through a single endpoint, rather than juggling a separate server for each app.
- Smart, context-aware tool loading. Unlike traditional MCP servers that dump every available tool into the LLM context window, Composio searches for and loads only the tools relevant to the task at hand.
- Cross-app automation. Chain actions across multiple apps in a single run - fetch a thread, summarize it in Notion, and post highlights to Slack without leaving the conversation.

## Connect OpenAlex to ChatGPT Work

### Prerequisites
- A ChatGPT account with access to ChatGPT Work (rolling out across Pro, Enterprise, Edu, Plus, and Business plans). We will use the [ChatGPT desktop app](https://openai.com/chatgpt/download/), which is available on every plan.
- Access to the OpenAlex workspace you want to connect.
- [Composio MCP](https://dashboard.composio.dev/login?utm_source=toolkits&utm_medium=framework_template&utm_campaign=chatgpt&utm_content=composio_connect&next=%2F~%2Forg%2Fconnect%2Fclients%2Fchatgpt).
Note: Composio connects through OAuth. You will be asked to sign in and approve specific permissions. Review the permission screen carefully if you are using a work account.
### Step-by-step: Connect OpenAlex to ChatGPT Work
### 1. Open the MCP settings
In ChatGPT Work, go to Settings and open the Plugins section. Inside the Plugins page, click the MCP tab.
### 2. Add the server
Click Add server. In the Name field enter Composio, for Type select Streamable HTTP, and in the URL field paste the Composio MCP server URL:

```bash
https://connect.composio.dev/mcp
```

## What is the OpenAlex MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The OpenAlex MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your OpenAlex account. It provides structured and secure access so your agent can perform OpenAlex operations on your behalf.

## Supported Tools

| Tool slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `OPENALEX_ADD_COLLECTION_ENTITIES` | Add Collection Entities | Bulk-add one or more matching OpenAlex entity IDs to an owned collection without duplicating existing memberships. |
| `OPENALEX_AUTOCOMPLETE_ENTITIES` | Autocomplete Entities | Resolve a partial name or title to likely OpenAlex entity IDs before filtering or retrieving metadata. |
| `OPENALEX_CREATE_COLLECTION` | Create Collection | Create a private, single-entity-type OpenAlex collection, optionally with an initial bounded set of entity IDs. |
| `OPENALEX_DELETE_COLLECTION` | Delete Collection | Permanently delete exactly one owned private OpenAlex collection and all of its collection memberships. This does not delete the underlying OpenAlex entities. |
| `OPENALEX_DOWNLOAD_WORK_CONTENT` | Download Work Content | Download an OpenAlex-cached PDF or gzipped GROBID TEI file for a work. Choose the format matching the work's has_content flags. Each call currently costs $0.01, and source copyright terms still apply. |
| `OPENALEX_GET_COLLECTION` | Get Collection | Get metadata for one private OpenAlex collection owned by the connected user. |
| `OPENALEX_GET_ENTITY` | Get Metadata Entity | Retrieve one OpenAlex work, author, source, institution, topic, keyword, publisher, funder, award, taxonomy item, country, continent, or language by its supported identifier. Returns the provider's entity object directly; use select to limit its top-level fields. |
| `OPENALEX_GET_RATE_LIMIT_STATUS` | Get Rate Limit Status | Validate the connected OpenAlex API key and inspect daily budget, prepaid balance, reset timing, and current endpoint costs before expensive queries or downloads. |
| `OPENALEX_LIST_COLLECTION_ENTITIES` | List Collection Entities | List one page of entity IDs in an owned private collection together with collection metadata and page totals. |
| `OPENALEX_LIST_MY_COLLECTIONS` | List My Collections | List private OpenAlex collections owned by the connected API-key user, optionally finding collections that contain an entity. |
| `OPENALEX_QUERY_ENTITIES` | Query Metadata Entities | Search, filter, sort, sample, select, or group one OpenAlex metadata resource other than works, including authors, venues, organizations, taxonomy, geography, awards, and enumerations. Returns one cursor-controlled page. |
| `OPENALEX_QUERY_WORKS` | Query Works | Search, filter, sort, sample, select, or group scholarly works. Returns one cursor-controlled page and its OpenAlex query cost; use the snapshot for whole-catalog exports. |
| `OPENALEX_REMOVE_COLLECTION_ENTITIES` | Remove Collection Entities | Bulk-remove one or more entity memberships from an owned private OpenAlex collection without deleting the underlying OpenAlex entities. |
| `OPENALEX_UPDATE_COLLECTION` | Update Collection | Update a private collection's name or description, or change its entity type while the collection is empty. Provide at least one of display_name, description, or entity_type. |

## Supported Triggers

None listed.

## Creating MCP Server - Stand-alone vs Composio SDK

Once connected, ChatGPT Work can access the OpenAlex MCP server via Composio to run actions that you authorize, directly in your workspace.

## Complete Code

None listed.

## How to build OpenAlex MCP Agent with another framework

- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/openalex/framework/hermes-agent)

## Related Toolkits

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- [Databox](https://composio.dev/toolkits/databox) - Databox is a business analytics platform that connects your data from any tool and device. It helps you track KPIs, build dashboards, and discover actionable insights.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the differences in Tool Router MCP and OpenAlex MCP?

With a standalone OpenAlex MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of OpenAlex tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from OpenAlex and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

### Can I use Tool Router MCP with ChatGPT Work?

Yes, you can. ChatGPT Work fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right OpenAlex tools.

### Can I manage the permissions and scopes for OpenAlex while using Tool Router?

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which OpenAlex scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

### How safe is my data with Composio Tool Router?

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your OpenAlex data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

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