Beginner to Intermediate

Obsidian for PhD Researchers: Build a Research System That Scales

The complete course for setting up and mastering Obsidian as a research knowledge management system. Vault architecture, plugins, Zotero integration, and a sustainable daily workflow.

6.5 hoursTotal content
28 lessonsShort modules
412+Students enrolled
⭐ 4.9/5Average rating

$197 USD

$147

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  • 6.5 hours of video content across 28 focused lessons
  • Starter vault template (ready to adapt immediately)
  • Plugin configuration files for all 5 recommended plugins
  • Paper annotation template + daily note template
  • Obsidian keyboard shortcut reference card (PDF)
  • Lifetime access with all future updates
  • Access to private Discord community
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
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What You'll Learn

Design a vault structure that works at 100 and 1,000 notes
Configure Dataview for dynamic research dashboards
Set up Templater for automated note creation
Integrate Zotero with one-click literature imports
Build a paper annotation workflow that captures everything relevant
Create a daily note system that replaces your lab notebook
Export to LaTeX, Word, and PDF from Obsidian
Use Graph View and Dataview to navigate your knowledge
Apply the Zettelkasten method adapted for academic research
Maintain the system under PhD-level time pressure

Course Curriculum

1

Welcome & Course Orientation

What you'll build, what you need to install, and how to get the most from this course.

2

Why Obsidian for Research?

Honest comparison with Notion, Roam, Logseq, and traditional methods. When each makes sense.

3

Installing Obsidian & First Vault

Installation, settings, the starter vault download, and your first 5 minutes.

4

Vault Architecture Fundamentals

The 4-folder system that scales. Why most Obsidian setups fail after 6 months.

5

Markdown for Researchers

Everything you need to know about markdown to write research notes effectively. Nothing more.

6

Core Plugin: Dataview

Query your notes like a database. Build reading lists, project trackers, and literature maps.

7

Core Plugin: Templater

Automate repetitive note creation. Build templates for papers, meetings, daily notes, and projects.

8

Core Plugin: Citations + Zotero

Full Zotero integration setup. One-click import of papers with metadata and annotations.

9

Core Plugin: Excalidraw

Draw conceptual diagrams and mind maps linked to your notes.

10

Core Plugin: Pandoc

Export to Word, LaTeX, and PDF while preserving citations and formatting.

11

The Literature Note System

A template and workflow for reading, annotating, and connecting papers.

12

The Daily Research Note

A daily note system designed for research lab notebooks — not productivity blogs.

13

Connecting Ideas: Backlinks & Graph View

How to use Obsidian's network features to discover connections between concepts.

14

The Zettelkasten Adapted for Academia

How to apply permanent notes, literature notes, and fleeting notes to research — without the philosophy.

15

Managing Multiple Projects

Using Dataview and folder structure to stay oriented across thesis, papers, and side projects.

16

Exporting for Submission

Getting your notes out of Obsidian and into the format your supervisor or journal requires.

17

Maintaining the System

The 15-minute weekly review. How to prevent your vault from becoming another cluttered folder.

18

Troubleshooting Common Problems

The 8 most common setups issues and exactly how to fix them.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for researchers at any career stage who want a knowledge management system that keeps up with their reading pace, connects ideas across papers, and exports cleanly for writing.

Ideal for: PhD students in years 1–4, postdocs, research engineers, and academics writing their first or second book.

Not for: People looking for a general productivity system — Obsidian courses for non-researchers exist and may suit you better. This course is tightly scoped to research work.

Prerequisites

  • A computer running Windows, Mac, or Linux
  • No prior Obsidian experience required
  • No programming or markdown experience required
  • A Zotero account (free) if you want the citation integration module

A Note on Updates

Research tools evolve fast. Every major Obsidian update, plugin change, or workflow improvement gets added to this course. Enrollment once = access forever.