diff --git a/packages/cli/src/bin.ts b/packages/cli/src/bin.ts
index c5b2d4ecf..4b772ef04 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/bin.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/bin.ts
@@ -287,16 +287,16 @@ Usage:
                          Create a GitHub PR for an in-review task
   fn task import <owner/repo> [opts]  Import GitHub issues as tasks
   fn research create --query <text> [--wait] [--max-wait-ms <ms>] [--json]
-                                      Create and optionally wait for a research run
+                                      Create and optionally wait for a cited-research run (search/fetch/synthesis)
   fn research list | ls [--status <status>] [--limit <n>] [--json]
-                                      List research runs
-  fn research show <run-id> [--json]  Show research run details
+                                      List cited-research runs
+  fn research show <run-id> [--json]  Show cited-research run details
   fn research export <run-id> [--format <json|markdown|pdf>] [--output <path>] [--json]
-                                      Export research run results
+                                      Export cited-research run results
   fn research cancel <run-id> [--json]
-                                      Cancel an active research run
+                                      Cancel an active cited-research run
   fn research retry <run-id> [--json]
-                                      Retry a failed/cancelled research run
+                                      Retry a failed/cancelled cited-research run
   fn mission create [title] [desc]    Create a new mission
   fn mission list | ls                List missions
   fn mission show | info <id>         Show mission details
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/research.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/research.ts
index 61ff05f73..d5c2d2ea7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/research.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/research.ts
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export async function runResearchCreate(options: ResearchCreateOptions): Promise
       if (options.json) {
         jsonOut(run);
       } else {
-        console.log(`Created research run ${runId}.`);
+        console.log(`Created cited-research run ${runId}.`);
         if (run) printRun(run);
       }
       return;
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ export async function runResearchList(options: ResearchListOptions = {}): Promis
     }
 
     if (!runs.length) {
-      console.log("No research runs found.");
+      console.log("No cited-research runs found.");
       return;
     }
 
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ export async function runResearchShow(runId: string, options: ResearchCommandOpt
   try {
     const store = await getStore(options.projectName);
     const run = store.getResearchStore().getRun(runId);
-    if (!run) throw new Error(`Research run not found: ${runId}`);
+    if (!run) throw new Error(`Cited-research run not found: ${runId}`);
 
     if (options.json) {
       jsonOut(run);
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ export async function runResearchExport(options: ResearchExportOptions): Promise
   try {
     const store = await getStore(options.projectName);
     const run = store.getResearchStore().getRun(options.runId);
-    if (!run) throw new Error(`Research run not found: ${options.runId}`);
+    if (!run) throw new Error(`Cited-research run not found: ${options.runId}`);
 
     const format = (options.format ?? "markdown") as ResearchExportFormat;
     if (!RESEARCH_EXPORT_FORMATS.includes(format)) {
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ export async function runResearchCancel(runId: string, options: ResearchCommandO
   try {
     const store = await getStore(options.projectName);
     const run = store.getResearchStore().getRun(runId);
-    if (!run) throw new Error(`Research run not found: ${runId}`);
+    if (!run) throw new Error(`Cited-research run not found: ${runId}`);
 
     if (!["queued", "running", "cancelling", "retry_waiting"].includes(run.status)) {
       throw new Error(`invalid-transition: Run ${runId} cannot be cancelled from status ${run.status}.`);
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ export async function runResearchRetry(runId: string, options: ResearchCommandOp
   try {
     const store = await getStore(options.projectName);
     const existing = store.getResearchStore().getRun(runId);
-    if (!existing) throw new Error(`Research run not found: ${runId}`);
+    if (!existing) throw new Error(`Cited-research run not found: ${runId}`);
 
     if (existing.status === "retry_exhausted" || existing.lifecycle?.errorCode === "RETRY_EXHAUSTED") {
       throw new Error(`retry-exhausted: Run ${runId} has exhausted retry attempts.`);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/extension.ts b/packages/cli/src/extension.ts
index 32703ad64..3c5eb3b8e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/extension.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/extension.ts
@@ -1474,7 +1474,7 @@ export default function kbExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
   pi.registerTool({
     name: "fn_research_run",
     label: "fn: Run Research",
-    description: "Start a bounded research run and optionally wait for findings.",
+    description: "Cited-research pipeline: create a bounded search/fetch/synthesis run (not an autonomous experiment loop) and optionally wait for completion.",
     parameters: Type.Object({
       query: Type.String({ description: "Research query or question" }),
       wait_for_completion: Type.Optional(Type.Boolean({ description: "Wait for the run to complete before returning (default: false)" })),
@@ -1538,7 +1538,7 @@ export default function kbExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
   pi.registerTool({
     name: "fn_research_list",
     label: "fn: List Research Runs",
-    description: "List recent research runs.",
+    description: "Cited-research pipeline: list recent search/fetch/synthesis runs (not experiment-loop sessions)."
     parameters: Type.Object({
       status: Type.Optional(StringEnum([...RESEARCH_RUN_STATUSES], { description: "Filter by run status" }) as unknown as TSchema),
       limit: Type.Optional(Type.Number({ description: "Max runs to return (default: 10)" })),
@@ -1562,7 +1562,7 @@ export default function kbExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
   pi.registerTool({
     name: "fn_research_get",
     label: "fn: Get Research Run",
-    description: "Get one research run and structured findings.",
+    description: "Cited-research pipeline: get one run with structured findings and citations (not experiment-loop state)."
     parameters: Type.Object({ id: Type.String({ description: "Research run ID" }) }),
     async execute(_toolCallId, params, _signal, _onUpdate, ctx) {
       const store = await getStore(ctx.cwd);
@@ -1604,7 +1604,7 @@ export default function kbExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
   pi.registerTool({
     name: "fn_research_cancel",
     label: "fn: Cancel Research Run",
-    description: "Cancel an in-flight research run. Terminal runs return INVALID_TRANSITION.",
+    description: "Cited-research pipeline: cancel an in-flight run; terminal runs return INVALID_TRANSITION (does not control experiment loops)."
     parameters: Type.Object({ id: Type.String({ description: "Research run ID" }) }),
     async execute(_toolCallId, params, _signal, _onUpdate, ctx) {
       const store = await getStore(ctx.cwd);
@@ -1666,7 +1666,7 @@ export default function kbExtension(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
   pi.registerTool({
     name: "fn_research_retry",
     label: "fn: Retry Research Run",
-    description: "Retry a failed research run when lifecycle marks it retryable.",
+    description: "Cited-research pipeline: retry a failed run when lifecycle marks it retryable (not an autonomous experiment loop retry)."
     parameters: Type.Object({ id: Type.String({ description: "Research run ID" }) }),
     async execute(_toolCallId, params, _signal, _onUpdate, ctx) {
       const store = await getStore(ctx.cwd);
diff --git a/packages/dashboard/app/components/ResearchView.tsx b/packages/dashboard/app/components/ResearchView.tsx
index 8d8655f3a..82a8f7a60 100644
--- a/packages/dashboard/app/components/ResearchView.tsx
+++ b/packages/dashboard/app/components/ResearchView.tsx
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ export function ResearchView({ projectId, addToast, onOpenSettings, readinessVer
       <header className="research-view__header">
         <div>
           <h2 className="research-view__title">Research</h2>
-          <p className="research-view__subtitle">Create and track research runs with cited findings.</p>
+          <p className="research-view__subtitle">Cited search and synthesis runs: gather sources, fetch content, and synthesize findings.</p>
         </div>
         <button className="btn" type="button" onClick={() => void refresh()}>
           Refresh