TokenMix Research Lab · 2026-07-02

Research AI Division of Labor: How to Combine GPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, and Real Skills

Summary

Many researchers still use AI in one giant chat box: literature review, paper polishing, code debugging, MATLAB errors, reviewer responses, and research diagrams all go into the same model.

That works for simple tasks, but it quickly becomes unstable:

My current approach is different:

Models define capability boundaries.
Skills define workflows.
Scenarios decide which route to use.

Instead of asking “Which is better, GPT, Claude, or Gemini?”, ask:

Is this a long-text task, a PDF/chart task, a writing task, a peer-review task,
a reproduction-debugging task, or a figure-generation task?
Is there a real Skill that standardizes the workflow?
Which model fits that Skill best?

This article breaks down common academic scenarios and explains several verified Skills in detail: deep-research, academic-paper, academic-paper-reviewer, paper-context-resolver, and gpt-image-2. The MATLAB section is intentionally described as a symbolic math / simulation scenario, not as a skills.sh Skill.

First: Model, Skill, and Scenario Are Different Things

What a model is

A model is the underlying capability layer. For example:

The model tells you what it may be good at. It does not guarantee that your workflow is sound.

What a Skill is

A Skill is a specialized workflow. It is not a model and not a single prompt. A good Skill specifies:

For example, deep-research is not just “think harder.” It is an academic research workflow. academic-paper-reviewer is not just “review my paper.” It simulates a multi-perspective peer-review process.

What a scenario is

A scenario is the real task you need to finish:

The scenario decides the route. The model is chosen after that.

My Academic AI Division Table

Scenario Preferred models Skill / workflow Why
Research planning GPT-5.4 / GPT-5.5 Deep Research Socratic or quick brief Turns vague interests into variables, questions, and routes
Literature review / related work Claude Sonnet 5 + Gemini 2.5 Pro Deep Research lit-review Claude handles long text; Gemini helps with PDFs and charts
Systematic review Claude Sonnet 5 + Gemini 2.5 Pro Deep Research systematic-review Needs search strategy, inclusion criteria, and evidence tables
Fact checking Gemini 2.5 Pro + Claude Sonnet 5 Deep Research fact-check One model checks materials; another writes cautiously
Paper outline GPT-5.4 + Claude Sonnet 5 Academic Paper outline-only GPT structures; Claude improves academic expression
Paper revision Claude Sonnet 5 + GPT-5.4 Academic Paper revision-coach Diagnoses logic, evidence, and style instead of only polishing
Citation checking Claude Sonnet 5 + Gemini 2.5 Pro Academic Paper citation-check Checks whether claims and references align
Reviewer response Claude Opus 4.8 + GPT-5.4 Academic Paper rebuttal-audit Requires tone, strategy, evidence, and boundaries
Simulated peer review Claude Opus 4.8 + GLM-5.2 Academic Paper Reviewer Multi-perspective criticism beats generic praise
Paper reproduction DeepSeek V4 Pro + Claude Sonnet 5 paper-context-resolver Resolves dataset split, preprocessing, checkpoint, and protocol gaps
Code debugging DeepSeek V4 Pro + Kimi K2.7 Code Coding workflow Reasoning and long-code reading matter more than a named Skill
MATLAB derivation / simulation GPT-5.4 + DeepSeek V4 Pro + Kimi K2.7 Code MATLAB symbolic math scenario Formula derivation, state-space equations, function drafts
Academic diagrams GPT Image 2 + Qwen Image Max gpt-image-2 Skill / image workflow GPT Image 2 for structured layouts; Qwen for Chinese image-text

Skill 1: Deep Research

Source: deep-research in the Academic Research Skills GitHub repository.
Repository: https://github.com/imbad0202/academic-research-skills

deep-research is an academic research workflow. It is most useful before formal writing begins, especially for literature review, systematic review, fact checking, and research-question clarification.

Common modes include:

When to use it

Use it when:

Do not use it when:

Input template

For literature review:

Use deep-research in lit-review mode.

Topic: [your topic]
Field: [discipline]
Research goal: [question you want to answer]
Scope: [years, region, methods, population]
Must include: [keywords or theories]
Must exclude: [out-of-scope areas]
Output:
1. research question refinement
2. literature map
3. key debates
4. method clusters
5. evidence gaps
6. reading list with why each paper matters

For systematic review:

Use deep-research in systematic-review mode.

Research question:
Population / object:
Intervention / method:
Comparison:
Outcome:
Databases to consider:
Inclusion criteria:
Exclusion criteria:
Expected output: search strategy, screening table, evidence matrix, PRISMA-style summary.

Model pairing

My preferred pairing:

A practical chain:

GPT-5.4 clarifies the research question.
Deep Research + Claude Sonnet 5 builds the literature map.
Gemini 2.5 Pro handles PDF / chart / screenshot materials.
Claude summarizes the final related-work structure.

Skill 2: Academic Paper

Source: academic-paper in the Academic Research Skills GitHub repository.
Repository: https://github.com/imbad0202/academic-research-skills

academic-paper is for the writing stage. It is not merely a proofreading tool. It is a paper-writing pipeline covering configuration, structure, argumentation, abstract, citation, revision, rebuttal, and format conversion.

Common modes include:

When to use it

Use it when:

Do not use it when:

Input templates

Outline:

Use academic-paper in outline-only mode.

Paper type: empirical / theoretical / review / case study
Field:
Target venue or style:
Research question:
Core claim:
Method / data:
Expected contribution:
Word count:
Citation style:
Output: section outline, argument flow, evidence needed for each section.

Revision coaching:

Use academic-paper in revision-coach mode.

Task: revise the following section.
Target: improve academic clarity, claim-evidence alignment, paragraph logic.
Do not invent citations.
Return:
1. diagnosis
2. revised version
3. change log
4. remaining risks

Draft:
[paste draft]

Reviewer response audit:

Use academic-paper in rebuttal-audit mode.

Inputs:
1. reviewer comments
2. current response draft
3. revised manuscript excerpt

Check:
- whether each concern is answered
- whether the tone is respectful
- whether evidence is specific
- whether any promise is not reflected in the manuscript

Model pairing

A stable paper-writing chain:

Deep Research builds the literature map.
Academic Paper outline-only creates the structure.
Claude Sonnet 5 drafts or revises long sections.
Academic Paper citation-check checks claim-reference alignment.
Academic Paper rebuttal-audit checks the response letter.

Skill 3: Academic Paper Reviewer

Source: academic-paper-reviewer in the Academic Research Skills GitHub repository.
Repository: https://github.com/imbad0202/academic-research-skills

academic-paper-reviewer is useful because it simulates a multi-perspective peer-review process. Instead of asking one model to “give feedback,” it configures different reviewer personas, including editor-in-chief, methodology reviewer, domain reviewer, cross-disciplinary reviewer, and Devil’s Advocate.

Common modes include:

When to use it

Use it when:

Do not use it when:

Input templates

Full pre-submission review:

Use academic-paper-reviewer in full review mode.

Paper field:
Target journal/conference:
Manuscript:
[paste manuscript or provide file]

Focus:
1. originality
2. methodology
3. claim-evidence alignment
4. literature positioning
5. limitations
6. likely reviewer objections

Output: editorial decision, reviewer reports, major/minor revisions, revision roadmap.

Methodology check:

Use academic-paper-reviewer in methodology-focus mode.

Only evaluate:
- research design
- data source
- sample selection
- measurement
- statistical / experimental validity
- robustness checks

Do not rewrite the paper yet.
Return a risk table and required fixes.

Re-review:

Use academic-paper-reviewer in re-review mode.

Inputs:
1. original reviewer comments
2. response letter
3. revised manuscript excerpts

Check whether every reviewer concern is actually resolved.
Mark unresolved, partially resolved, and fully resolved items.

Model pairing

Skill 4: paper-context-resolver

Source: paper-context-resolver on skills.sh.
Page: https://www.skills.sh/lllllllama/ai-paper-reproduction-skill/paper-context-resolver

This Skill is designed for paper reproduction. Its boundary matters: it is not a general paper summarizer and not an environment setup tool. It is meant for narrow reproduction-critical gaps that remain after reading the README and repository files.

It is suited for:

When to use it

Use it when:

Do not use it when:

Input template

Use paper-context-resolver.

Paper:
[paper title / DOI / arXiv / PDF link]

Repository:
[GitHub repo]

Reproduction question:
Which dataset split and preprocessing settings correspond to Table 2?

Known conflict:
README says [A], paper says [B], config file says [C].

Output:
1. primary evidence from paper
2. evidence from repo / README / config
3. conflict table
4. most likely reproduction setting
5. uncertainty and what to test next

Model pairing

My usual workflow:

Read the README first.
Ask paper-context-resolver one narrow reproduction question.
Use DeepSeek / Kimi to inspect code and config.
Write the conclusion as a reproduction note.

Skill 5: gpt-image-2

Source: gpt-image-2 on skills.sh.
Page: https://www.skills.sh/doany-ai/skills/gpt-image-2

This Skill targets GPT Image 2 image generation and editing. It is useful for structured visual tasks, especially when the image needs layout, labels, arrows, workflow structure, or visual consistency.

Academic use cases:

When to use it

Use it when:

Do not use it for:

Input templates

Academic workflow diagram:

Use gpt-image-2 for a clean academic workflow diagram.

Canvas: 16:9 slide
Style: white background, journal presentation style, minimal colors
Elements:
1. Data collection
2. Preprocessing
3. Model training
4. Evaluation
5. Error analysis

Text labels must be short and readable.
Do not add extra logos or decorative text.
Use arrows to show direction.

Chinese research card:

Create a vertical 3:4 Chinese academic knowledge card.
Style: white paper, dark blue text, mint highlights, coral accent.
Topic: GPT / Claude / Gemini research workflow.
Keep all text inside safe margins.
No real logos, no QR code, no watermark.

Model pairing

Practical workflow:

GPT-5.4 writes the image structure as bullet points.
gpt-image-2 generates the English or neutral structure diagram.
Qwen Image Max generates the Chinese poster version if needed.
Human checks labels, arrows, and logic.
Final paper figures can be redrawn in vector tools if precision is required.

MATLAB: Treat It as a Symbolic Math / Simulation Scenario

Source: MathWorks MATLAB Blog on Agentic AI Playground and Symbolic Math Skills.
Article: https://blogs.mathworks.com/matlab/2026/06/25/from-whiteboard-sketch-to-pareto-front-using-symbolic-math-skills-in-the-agentic-ai-playground/

For MATLAB, I would not label it as a skills.sh Skill. A safer wording is:

MATLAB symbolic math scenario
MATLAB derivation and simulation scenario
Symbolic Math Skills example in Agentic AI Playground

Useful tasks include:

Input templates

Derivation:

I am working on a MATLAB simulation.

Goal:
Derive the transfer function and convert it to state-space equations.

Given equations:
[paste equations]

Please:
1. define variables
2. show symbolic derivation
3. identify assumptions
4. produce MATLAB function draft
5. list checks I should run in MATLAB

Debugging:

Here is my MATLAB error and code.

Task:
Explain the error, locate the likely cause, and suggest a minimal fix.

Constraints:
Do not rewrite the whole project.
Keep variable names unchanged.
Return the corrected snippet and why it works.

Model pairing

Three Complete Workflows

Workflow 1: From topic idea to literature review

1. GPT-5.4 turns a vague interest into three research questions.
2. Deep Research `socratic` clarifies variables, object, method, and boundary.
3. Deep Research `lit-review` builds the literature map.
4. Gemini 2.5 Pro handles PDFs, tables, and screenshots.
5. Claude Sonnet 5 writes the related-work structure.
6. Academic Paper `citation-check` checks claim-reference alignment.

Best for: thesis proposal, doctoral topic exploration, early course paper work.

Workflow 2: From draft to pre-submission check

1. Academic Paper `outline-only` checks the structure.
2. Claude Sonnet 5 revises introduction / related work.
3. Academic Paper `revision-coach` diagnoses each section.
4. Academic Paper Reviewer `methodology-focus` checks methods.
5. Academic Paper Reviewer full review simulates peer review.
6. GPT-5.4 turns major revisions into an action checklist.

Best for: pre-submission self-review, revision planning, finding logic gaps.

Workflow 3: From reproduction issue to experiment note

1. Read README and official repo first.
2. paper-context-resolver answers one reproduction-critical question.
3. Claude Sonnet 5 organizes paper / README / issue evidence.
4. DeepSeek V4 Pro analyzes code and evaluation protocol.
5. Kimi K2.7 Code reads long code paths if needed.
6. GPT-5.4 writes a reproduction note.

Best for: deep learning reproduction, mismatched metrics, unclear data splits.

Why Pay-as-You-Go Multi-Model Access Fits Researchers

Academic AI usage is uneven.

During paper deadlines, rebuttal weeks, or reproduction work, usage can be intense. During experiments, classes, or reading periods, you may not open the tools for days.

Monthly subscriptions across every platform create friction:

That is why I prefer matching tools by:

long text -> Claude
PDF / chart -> Gemini
planning / structure -> GPT
code / reasoning -> DeepSeek / Kimi
Chinese writing -> Qwen / GLM
research diagrams -> GPT Image 2 / Qwen Image Max

With a multi-model entry point like TokenMix, these models can be used from one account on a pay-as-you-go basis. For researchers, the point is not finding one model that is always best. The point is avoiding fixed monthly costs for models you only need occasionally.

Before You Run Any Skill: Build a Research AI Input Pack

Many people think AI is unstable because the model is weak. In academic work, the more common reason is scattered input. Research tasks need context, boundaries, evidence, and output constraints. If you paste random fragments every time, the model has to guess the workflow.

I recommend preparing a reusable input pack:

Input material What it contains Useful for
Project card topic, field, object, keywords, scope, exclusions Deep Research, Academic Paper
Literature list DOI, title, year, method, finding, why it matters Deep Research, Academic Paper
Manuscript draft title, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion Academic Paper, Academic Paper Reviewer
Citation table in-text citation, reference, supported claim Academic Paper citation-check
Reviewer package reviewer comments, response draft, revised excerpts Academic Paper rebuttal-audit, Reviewer re-review
Reproduction package paper, repo, README, config, error, metric gap paper-context-resolver, DeepSeek, Kimi
MATLAB package equations, variables, current code, error, expected output MATLAB symbolic math / debugging scenario
Figure package purpose, size, required elements, forbidden elements, text gpt-image-2, Qwen Image Max

A minimal project card:

Project card

Topic:
Field:
Research object:
Core question:
Keywords:
Scope:
Do not cover:
Current stage: topic exploration / literature review / draft / revision / reproduction
Target output:
Deadline:

The key benefit: models and Skills can change, but your context stays stable.

General Rule: Do Not Ask the Skill to “Write” Too Early

The most common academic AI mistake is asking for the final draft immediately.

A safer pattern:

Step 1: ask the model to identify task type and missing inputs
Step 2: let the Skill produce intermediate structure
Step 3: generate the final prose, table, figure, or revision

For example, instead of saying:

Write my related work.

Use:

I am preparing a related work section.
First, check whether my inputs are sufficient:
1. Is the research question clear?
2. Can the literature be grouped by method or debate?
3. Are key opposing papers missing?
4. Does each claim have citation support?
Do not write the prose yet. Return only missing inputs and a suggested workflow.

This prevents a lot of fluent but hollow academic writing.

Output Quality Gates for Each Skill

What a good Deep Research output should include

A strong deep-research output should not be just “10 paper summaries.” It should contain:

Quality-gate prompt:

Audit the deep-research output.

Check whether it includes:
1. refined research questions
2. literature clusters
3. key debates
4. evidence strength
5. methodology map
6. research gaps
7. must-read sequence

Mark each item as pass / partial / missing.
If missing, tell me what input I need to provide.

What a good Academic Paper output should include

A strong academic-paper output should make the manuscript more publishable, not just more polished:

Quality-gate prompt:

Audit this Academic Paper output.

Check:
1. Does each section have a clear function?
2. Are claims proportional to evidence?
3. Are citations used to support specific claims?
4. Is the contribution explicit?
5. Are limitations honest and specific?
6. Does the revised text preserve my intended meaning?

Return a table: issue / severity / suggested fix.

What a good Academic Paper Reviewer output should include

Simulated review has two failure modes: vague praise and performative harshness.

A useful review should include:

Quality-gate prompt:

Audit the simulated peer review.

Check:
1. Are major concerns evidence-based?
2. Are minor comments separated from fatal issues?
3. Does the review identify methodology risks?
4. Does it give actionable revision steps?
5. Does it avoid asking for irrelevant extra work?

Return a reviewer-quality score from 1 to 5 and explain.

What a good paper-context-resolver output should include

This Skill is narrow by design. A good output is an evidence ledger, not a paper summary.

It should include:

Quality-gate prompt:

Audit the paper-context-resolver output.

It should not summarize the whole paper.
It should answer one reproduction-critical question.

Check:
1. Is the question narrow?
2. Does it cite paper evidence?
3. Does it cite repo/config evidence?
4. Does it record conflicts?
5. Does it separate certainty from hypothesis?
6. Does it suggest the next minimal test?

What a good gpt-image-2 output should include

Academic figures are not only about visual appeal. A useful generated figure should have:

Quality-gate prompt:

Evaluate this generated research figure.

Check:
1. Are all required elements present?
2. Is the flow direction correct?
3. Are text labels readable?
4. Is there any extra or hallucinated element?
5. Is the style appropriate for paper / slides / social post?
6. What should be edited manually before publishing?

Model Fallback: How to Switch When the First Model Fails

Model switching should not be random. Switch based on failure type:

Failure type Common symptom Fallback strategy
Missing long-context details appendix, tables, or limitations ignored Claude Sonnet 5 / Gemini 2.5 Pro
Misreading charts axes, legends, table meaning wrong Gemini 2.5 Pro / Gemini 3.5 Flash
Hollow logic many claims, weak reasoning chain GPT-5.4 / DeepSeek V4 Pro
Broken code edits too many changes, renamed variables Kimi K2.7 Code / DeepSeek V4 Pro
Awkward Chinese prose translated tone, unnatural phrasing Qwen3.7 Max / GLM-5.2
Too gentle as reviewer praise without critique Claude Opus 4.8 + Academic Paper Reviewer
Too harsh as reviewer irrelevant extra demands guided mode with limited criteria
Bad image text wrong labels, distorted Chinese text Qwen Image Max or manual layout

A useful fallback instruction:

The previous model output failed because:
[specific failure]

Redo the task with a different emphasis:
- preserve original meaning
- fix only the failed part
- do not rewrite unrelated sections
- explain what changed and why

Lab / Research Group Workflow: Do Not Let Everyone Ask From Scratch

For a lab group, the worst pattern is every student asking from zero. A better pattern is shared AI-ready material:

lab_ai/
  project_cards/
  literature_matrix/
  paper_drafts/
  reviewer_comments/
  reproduction_notes/
  prompts/
  figures/

Suggested shared tables

Literature matrix:

Field Meaning
paper_id internal ID
citation formatted citation
research question what the paper answers
method method
data data
key finding main finding
limitation stated limitation
useful for which section it supports
evidence strength strong / medium / weak

Reproduction note:

Field Meaning
paper target paper
repo official repository
question narrow reproduction question
paper evidence evidence from paper
repo evidence evidence from repository
conflict conflict point
chosen setting final selected setting
next test next experiment

Reviewer response tracker:

Field Meaning
reviewer R1 / R2 / R3
comment id comment number
issue type method / writing / citation / experiment
response status done / partial / pending
manuscript change where it changed
evidence supporting material

The goal is to turn Skill outputs into lab assets, not disposable chat logs.

A One-Week Starter Plan

Day 1: Build your project card

Use GPT-5.4 to turn your research interest into three concrete research questions.

Day 2: Run Deep Research lit-review

Pick one question only. Ask for literature clusters, debates, and reading sequence.

Day 3: Use Gemini for PDFs and charts

Take figures, tables, and method sections from 3 to 5 key papers and let Gemini explain them.

Day 4: Use Academic Paper outline-only

Input the research question, literature map, and method. Ask only for structure, not full prose.

Day 5: Use Claude Sonnet 5 to revise one section

Revise one related-work section first. Require a change log.

Day 6: Use Academic Paper Reviewer methodology-focus

Ask it to check only methodology risks. Avoid generic peer review at this stage.

Day 7: Build your own research AI template

Record which models worked, which prompts were reliable, and which outputs needed verification.

Common Mistakes

Final Checklist

Before opening an AI tool, ask:

1. Is this a long-text task or a PDF/chart task?
2. Is this writing, review, revision, reproduction, or coding?
3. Is this a narrow reproduction detail or general code debugging?
4. Is there a real Skill that standardizes this workflow?
5. Does the task benefit from using multiple models on demand?

If you answer these five questions first, model selection becomes much easier.

Verified Skills and Sources