# Draft and manage academic research papers with OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by a clock, and works across Google Sheets and in-memory vectors. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/draft-and-manage-academic-research-papers-with-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Research and reporting](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Research+and+reporting#library)

# Draft and manage academic research papers with OpenAI

Started by a clock, and works across Google Sheets and in-memory vectors. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 34 steps, 1 branch, 1 loop or waits: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fdraft-and-manage-academic-research-papers-with-openai)

**34 steps** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 19 Logic 4 Service 10

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Schedule Research Monitoring** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **OpenAI GPT-4 Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 3 **Analysis Output Parser** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 4 **Research Context Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 5 **OpenAI Embeddings** Embeddings Open Ai *Model*
- 6 **Text Splitter** Text Splitter Recursive Character Text Splitter *Model*
- 7 **OpenAI GPT-4 Drafting Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 8 **Manuscript Output Parser** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 9 **Citation Embeddings** Embeddings Open Ai *Model*
- 10 **OpenAI Format Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 11 **Format Output Parser** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 12 **OpenAI Learning Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 13 **Learning Output Parser** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 14 **Workflow Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 15 **Research Analysis Agent** Agent *Model*
- 16 **Knowledge Base Vector Store** Vector Store In Memory *Model*
- 17 **Document Loader** Document Default Data Loader *Model*
- 18 **Manuscript Drafting Agent** Agent *Model*
- 19 **Citation Reference Store** Vector Store In Memory *Model*
- 20 **Format Adaptation Agent** Agent *Model*
- 21 **Learning Optimization Agent** Agent *Model*
- 22 **Fetch Academic Papers** Http Request *Service*
- 23 **Fetch Patents** Http Request *Service*
- 24 **Fetch Datasets** Http Request *Service*
- 25 **Fetch Technical Blogs** Http Request *Service*
- 26 **Save to Research Database** Google Sheets *Service*
- 27 **Validate References API** Http Request *Service*
- 28 **Track Submission Deadlines** Google Sheets *Service*
- 29 **Store Learning Insights** Google Sheets *Service*
- 30 **Combine All Sources** Merge *Logic*
- 31 **Plagiarism Check API** Http Request *Service*
- 32 **Log Reviewer Feedback** Google Sheets *Service*
- 33 **Rate Limit Delay** Wait *Logic*
- 34 **Check Validation Results** If *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** A clock
- **Steps:** 34, with 1 branch, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** Google Sheets, in-memory vectors
- **Model:** OpenAI
- **Retrieval:** Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Google Sheets and in-memory vectors accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on a clock.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Take your time. At 34 steps it is large: read it before trusting it with anything live.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 34 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fdraft-and-manage-academic-research-papers-with-openai)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)[in-memory vectors](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=in-memory+vectors#library)

## Workflows like it

Also research and reporting, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

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- [**Automate ESG compliance routing and reporting with OpenAI** 30 steps · calls a model · Airtable, Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-esg-compliance-routing-and-reporting-with-openai)
- [**Brand visibility & sentiment analysis across AI search tools** 30 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/brand-visibility-and-sentiment-analysis-across-ai-search-too)