diff --git a/biosim_extractor/metadata/populatemetadata.py b/biosim_extractor/metadata/populatemetadata.py
index a0f64fe..4a081b8 100644
--- a/biosim_extractor/metadata/populatemetadata.py
+++ b/biosim_extractor/metadata/populatemetadata.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import json
 from typing import Any, Dict
 
+from biosim_schema.utils.paths import engine_mappings_path, schema_yaml_path
+
 from biosim_extractor.amber.amberlog import AmberLogParser
 from biosim_extractor.gromacs.gromacslog import GromacsLogParser
 from biosim_extractor.helpers.metadata_utils import round_floats
@@ -612,6 +614,11 @@ def main():
     """Entry point: parse args, resolve schema sources, run pipeline, validate, write output."""
     args = parse_args()
 
+    # use schema if paths not set
+    if not args.mappingschema or not args.biosimschema:
+        mapping_path = engine_mappings_path()
+        biosim_path = schema_yaml_path()
+
     mapping_path, biosim_path = resolve_schema_inputs(args)
 
     populator = MetadataPopulator(
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index c56001c..b643032 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "rdkit>=2025.9.5",
     "linkml==1.11.1",
     "xxhash>=3.6,<5",
+    "biosim_schema>=1.0,<2.0",
 ]
 
 [project.urls]