Dr. Nazma Islam Syeda

Research Associate · Non-Tenure Track

Center for Space Science and Technology

About

I am an Assistant Research Scientist with CSST, UMBC, working at NASA GSFC. My research interests are studying accretion onto compact objects (black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs) in X-ray binaries and Cataclysmic variables. To investigate the physics of accretion, I use data from X-ray observatories and other ground based radio and optical telescopes to carry out timing and spectroscopic studies of these systems. I also study the population of X-ray binaries in Milky Way and compare them with the population of X-ray sources in external galaxies. I am also involved in developing softwares and analysis tools used in analysing X-ray data from X-ray observatories.

Research interests

Accretion onto compact objects (black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs) in X-ray binaries and Cataclysmic variables, X-ray binary population studies.

Teaching interests

Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics

Education

  • Ph D, Astrophysics — Indian Institute of Science (2016)
    The many facets of variabilities in X-ray binaries

Publications

  • XMM-Newton Observations of Flares and a Possible Pulse Dropout in the Supergiant X-ray binary 4U 1909+07 2026 No · The Astrophysical Journal · Accepted Joel B Coley, Ralf Ballhausen, McKinley Brumback, Robin H.D Corbet, Camille M Diez, Felix Fuerst, Nazma Islam Syeda, Gaurava K Jaisawal, Peter Krestchmar, Christian Malacaria, Katja Pottschmidt, Pragati Pradhan
  • Multi-mission Investigation of X-ray Superorbital Modulation in the Supergiant High Mass X-ray Binary 4U 1538-52 2026 No · The Astrophysical Journal · Accepted Hale I Cohen, Nazma Islam Syeda, Robin H.D Corbet, Alexander Lange, Katja Pottschmidt, Enrico Bozzo, Patrizia Romano, Ralf Ballhausen, Christian Malacaria, Joel B Coley
  • Unveiling the X-ray properties of the eclipsing Cataclysmic Variable UU Aqr: spatially and spectrally-resolved two-component emission 2026 No · The Astrophysical Journal · Accepted Nazma Islam Syeda, Koji Mukai, Maurice Leutenegger, Gabriel W Pratt
  • An X-Ray View of the Cataclysmic Variable V902 Mon: Discovery of an X-Ray Eclipse 2025 No · The Astrophysical Journal · 982 (1) · pp. 8 Nazma Islam Syeda, Koji Mukai
  • Multi-wavelength study of 1eRASS J085039.9‑421151 with eROSITA, NuSTAR, and X-shooter 2025 No · Astronomy & Astrophysics · 693 (A260) · pp. 16 Aafia Zainab, A Avakyan, Victor Doroshenko, Philipp Thalhammer, Ekaterina Sokolova-Lapa, Ralf Ballhausen, Nicolas Zalot, Jakob Stierhof, S Hammerich, Camille M Diez, P Weber, T Dauser, Katrin Berger, Peter Kretschmar, Katja Pottschmidt, Pragati Pradhan, Nazma Islam Syeda, Chandreyee Maitra, Joel B Coley, P Blay, Robin H.D Corbet, Richard Rothschild, Kent Wood, A Santangelo, U Heber, Joern Wilms
  • Sharp Periodic Flares and Long-term Variability in the High-mass X-Ray Binary XTE J1829-098 from RXTE PCA, Swift BAT, and MAXI Observations 2024 No · The Astrophysical Journal · 976 (1) · pp. 15 Robin H.D Corbet, Ralf Ballhausen, Peter A Becker, Joel B Coley, Felix Fuerst, Keith C Gendreau, Sebastian Guillot, Nazma Islam Syeda, Gaurava Kumar Jaisawal, Peter Jenke, Peter Kretschmar, Alexander Lange, Christian Malacaria, Mason Ng, Katja Pottschmidt, Pragati Pradhan, Paul S Ray, Richard Rothschild, Philipp Thalhammer, Lee J Townsend, Joern Wilms, Colleen A Wilson-Hodge, Michael T Wolff
  • An in-depth analysis of the variable cyclotron lines in GX 301−2 2024 No · Astronomy & Astrophysics · 686 (A95) · pp. 19 Nicolas Zalot, Ekaterina Sokolova-Lapa, Jakob Stierhof, Ralf Ballhausen, Aafia Zainab, Katja Pottschmidt, Felix Fuerst, Philipp Thalhammer, Nazma Islam Syeda, Camille M Diez, Peter Kretschmar, Katrin Berger, Richard Rothschild, Christian Malacaria, Pragati Pradhan, Joern Wilms
  • Superorbital modulations in the wind-fed supergiant X-ray binary 2S 0114+650 2024 No · The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · 527 (4) · pp. 10993 Patrizia Romano, Enrico Bozzo, Nazma Islam Syeda, Robin H.D Corbet
  • X-rays from RS Ophiuchi's 2021 eruption: shocks in and out of ionization equilibrium 2024 No · The Astrophysical Journal · 960 (2) · pp. 125 Nazma Islam Syeda, Koji Mukai, Jennifer Sokoloski
  • The Role of Complex Ionized Absorbers in the Soft X-Ray Spectra of Intermediate Polars 2021 The Astrophysical Journal · 919 (2) · pp. 90 Nazma Islam Syeda, Koji Mukai
  • An XMM-Newton Early-type Galaxy Atlas 2021 The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · 256 (1) · pp. 22

Presentations

  • Effects of non-equilibrium collisional plasma on the X-ray emission from the RS Ophuichi during its 2021 outburst 2023 The X-ray Universe · ESA · Oral Presentation Nazma Islam Syeda (Author & Presenter), Koji Mukai (Author)
  • A study of super-orbital modulations in 4U 1538-52 with NICER and NuSTAR observations 2021 NICER Analysis Workshop · NASA · Oral Presentation

Courses Taught

  • Fundamentals of Astrophysics PHYS 304 · Fall 2023
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