Structured web research and synthesis. Use when the user needs to investigate a topic, compare options, gather sources, or produce a research brief. Triggers...
--- name: research-assistant description: Structured web research and synthesis. Use when the user needs to investigate a topic, compare options, gather sources, or produce a research brief. Triggers on phrases like "research", "look into", "find out about", "compare", "what's the latest on", "deep dive", or "literature review". --- # Research Assistant Systematic web research → source extraction → structured synthesis. ## Workflow 1. **Scope** — Clarify the research question and constraints (time range, region, language, depth). If ambiguous, infer from context and state assumptions. 2. **Search** — Use `web_search` with targeted queries. Run 2-4 queries with varied phrasing to reduce blind spots. Prefer `freshness` filter for time-sensitive topics. 3. **Fetch** — Use `web_fetch` on the most relevant results. Extract key claims, data points, and source URLs. Skip paywalled or low-value pages quickly. 4. **Synthesize** — Organize findings into a structured brief (see Output Format). 5. **Cite** — Every factual claim must include a source URL. Flag unsourced claims explicitly. ## Search Strategy - Start broad, then narrow with domain-specific terms - For comparisons: search each option independently, then "X vs Y" queries - For technical topics: include version numbers or date ranges - For regional info: set `country` and `language` parameters on `web_search` - If initial results are thin, rephrase or switch to a different angle before concluding "no results" ## Output Format ```markdown # Research Brief: [Topic] ## Summary 2-4 sentence executive summary. ## Key Findings 1. **[Finding]** — [1-line detail]. [Source](url) 2. **[Finding]** — [1-line detail]. [Source](url) ## Comparison (if applicable) | Criterion | Option A | Option B | |-----------|----------|----------| | ... | ... | ... | ## Open Questions - [Unresolved item 1] - [Unresolved item 2] ## Sources - [Title](url) — retrieved [date] - [Title](url) — retrieved [date] ``` ## Quality Checks - At least 3 distinct sources for any claim - No fabricated URLs — every link must come from actual search/fetch results - Flag recency: note if a source is > 1 year old - If results are contradictory, present both sides rather than picking one
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