AI Research Paper Explanator

Research papers are hard to interpret. PaperLens lets users upload a paper and instantly get summaries, key contributions, simple explanations, etc. This makes research accessible & easy for students.

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Inspiration

Research papers are hard to read. We wanted a tool that turns dense academic text into clear explanations and helps students learn faster.

What it does

Upload a PDF and get a structured breakdown: argument spine, summary, key concepts, ELI12, flashcards, quizzes, and follow-up Q&A. You can choose Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert level. Share links, compare papers, and track progress with Auth0.

How we built it

Next.js 16, TypeScript, Tailwind, shadcn/ui, Google Gemini for analysis, Prisma + PostgreSQL for persistence, and Auth0 for auth. PDF parsing with pdf-parse, streaming responses for real-time feedback.

Challenges we ran into

Prisma 7 migration (datasource config), Auth0 middleware with Turbopack, and making the app work without a database when PostgreSQL isn’t available.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Argument spine view, level-based explanations, spaced-repetition flashcards, cross-paper comparison, and a smooth streaming UX.

What we learned

Next.js 16 proxy vs middleware, Prisma 7 adapter setup, and how to keep the app usable when optional services (DB, Auth0) aren’t configured.

What's next for AI Research Paper Explanator

Citations, more export options (PDF/Notion), a browser extension for one-click paper analysis, and support for more document types (LaTeX, HTML).

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