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CURRICULUM VITAE

Research Interests

 

  • Stellar-mass and Supermassive black holes

  • Black hole accretion and relativistic jet physics

  • Fundamental Plane of Black hole activity and mass scaling of black holes

  • Transient Universe and Cosmic explosions

  • Multi-wavelength Astronomy (Radio, Optical, Infrared, Ultraviolet etc.)

Education

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  • Post-doctoral Associate, 2018 - current

         New York University, Abu Dhabi

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  • M.Sc. Astrophysics, 2010-2012

        European joint Master's - Astromundus
 

Awards and Honors

  • Youth Affiliate at the Mohammed bin Rashed Academy of Scientists, 2021-2023

      Selected as a Youth member for the prestigious National academy of scientists in the UAE

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  • Individual research travel award by New York University Abu Dhabi, 2018

      Awarded by NYUAD to exceptional postdocs for international collaboration visit

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  • LKBF Travel Grant by Leids Kerkhoven-Bosscha Fonds, 2017

      For dissemination of results in an International conference in Padova, Italy

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  • RadioNet Travel Support by RadioNet, 2017

      To attend Radio astronomy workshop in the Jordell-Bank telescope, UK

 

      For excellence in research by female PhD student in the University

 

  • LKBF Travel Grant by Leids Kerkhoven-Bosscha Fonds, 2015

      For dissemination of results in an International conference in Bangalore, India

 

      For best research work in Astromundus batch of 2010

 

  • Visiting Studentship in IUCAA, Pune, India (3 months), 2012

      To work with Dr. Gulab Dewangan on Suzaku X-ray telescope data

 

      By European Commission for International Masters in Astrophysics

 

  • Raghuvansh K Balbir Prize by St Stephen's College, 2010

      For excellent leadership skills and exemplary dedication

 

  • Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow in RRI, Bangalore, (2 months) 2009

      To work with Dr. N Udaya Shankar on Mauritius Radio Telescope data

 

  • Science Meritorious Award by Delhi University, 2007

      For securing 95.5% in All India Senior School Certificate Examination

 

  • CBSE Merit Certificate Award by Government of India, 2005

      For 100% marks in Mathematics in All India Secondary School Examination

Research Experience

Post-doctoral Associate, 2018 - current

 

Advisor : Dr. Dave Russell, New York University, Abu Dhabi

Project : My research goal is to explore the phenomena of accretion and ejection in low-mass black holes within the Milky Way using multi-wavelength data. I am currently investigating the accretion flow in black hole X-ray binaries using optical data, and studying the nature of the near infra-red excess in outburst rises and decays detected when the jets switches on/off.

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PhD Thesis, 2013 - 2017

 

Advisors : Dr. Elmar Koerding, Radboud University, Nijmegen
                    Prof. Dr. Heino Falcke, Radboud University, Nijmegen

Project : The main goal of my research is to understand the process of black hole accretion and relativistic jet physics, based on the idea that accretion physics scale globally across black holes of the entire mass scale. We are looking for evidences – both theoretical predictions and observational verifications to establish unification of stellar mass X-ray binaries & supermassive black holes.
 

Student Research Assistant, Sept-Dec 2012​

 

Advisor : Dr. Gulab Dewangan, IUCAA, Pune

Project : Using the 6.4keV broad Fe K line to probe the central engines of Broad Line Radio Galaxy 3C 120 by using newly published high-quality X-Ray data from Suzaku.

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Master's Thesis, 2012​

 

Advisors :  Prof. Dr. Wolfram Kollatschny, University of Goettingen, Germany

                     Prof. Dr. Luka C Popovic, Astronomical Observatory, Belgrade 

Project : Studying the correlations between the spectral properties of emission lines in the optical and UV wavelength ranges using a sample of Broad line Active Galactic Nuclei.

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Bachelor's Thesis, 2010

 

Advisor :  Dr. Sangeeta Sachdeva, St Stephen's College, Delhi University

Project : Photometric study of Globular Cluster M15, using the CELESTRON 14 inches telescope with equatorial mount at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.

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Winter School Project, 2009

 

Advisor :  Dr. Vivek Agrawal, ISRO (as part of TIFR Winter school on Astronomy and Astrophysics)

Project : Searching for low frequency QPOs in the black hole binary GRS 1915+105 using X-ray data from Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. 

 

Undergraduate Summer Research Project, 2009

 

Advisor :  Dr. N. Udaya Shankar, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore

Project : A visual search and preliminary analysis of extended radio sources of about a steradian of the southern sky imaged at 151.5 MHz with the Mauritius Radio Telescope.

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Publications

Journal Publications : 26 refereed publications (8 first-authored), 518 citations as of Dec 2023
 

  1. Saikia P. et al., 2023, ApJ, 949, 104, “Seven reflares, a mini-outburst and an outburst: High amplitude optical variations in the black hole X-ray binary Swift J1910. 2-0546”

  2. Saikia P. et al., 2023, MNRAS, 524, 4543, “Clockwise evolution in the hardness–intensity diagram of the black hole X-ray binary Swift J1910.2−0546”

  3. Nandi et al., 2023, accepted at ApJ, “Evidence for low power radio jet-ISM interaction at NGC 4395”

  4. Panizo-Espinar et al., 2023, accepted at A&A,“Omnipresent flux-dependent optical dips of Swift J1357.2”

  5. Baglio et al., 2023, A&A, 677, A30,“Matter ejections behind the highs and lows of PSR J1023+0038”

  6. Dullo B. T. et al., 2023, MNRAS, 522, 3412, “LeMMINGs. VI. Connecting nuclear activity to bulge properties of active and inactive galaxies: radio scaling relations and galaxy environment”

  7. Dullo B. T. et al., 2023, A&A, 675, A105, “LeMMINGs. V. Nuclear activity and bulge properties: a detailed multi-component decomposition of e-MERLIN Palomar galaxies with HST”

  8. Andersson A. et al., 2023, MNRAS, 523, 2219, “Bursts from Space: MeerKAT - The first citizen science project dedicated to commensal radio transients”

  9. Williams D. R. A., et al., 2022, MNRAS, 517, 2801 “Radio observations of the Black Hole X-ray Binary EXO 1846− 031 re-awakening from a 34-year slumber”

  10. Saikia P. et al., 2022, ApJ, 932, 38, “Multi-wavelength study of the BHXRB GRS 1716−249 in outburst”

  11. van den Eijnden et al., 2022, MNRAS, 510, 515, ”MeerKAT discovery of Vela X-1 bow shock”

  12. Williams D. R. A., et al., 2022, MNRAS, 510, 4909, “LeMMINGs IV. X-ray properties of a statistically complete sample of the nuclei in active and inactive galaxies from Palomar”

  13. Baglio M. C., Saikia P. et al., 2022, ApJ, 930, 20, “A misfired outburst in the NSXRB Cen X-4 ”

  14. van den Eijnden J., Saikia P. et al. 2022, MNRAS, 512 “Radio detection of runaway stellar bow shocks”

  15. van den Eijnden et al., 2022, MNRAS, 516, 2641 “Radio observations of Cen X-4 at low accretion rate”

  16. Baldi et al., 2021, MNRAS, 508, 2019, “Lemmings III. exploring the origin of nuclear radio emission in active and inactive galaxies through the [O III]–radio connection”

  17. Baldi et al., 2021, MNRAS, 500, 4749, “Lemming II. The e-MERLIN legacy survey of nearby galaxies”

  18. Russel D. M. et al., 2020, MNRAS, 495, 182, “The appearance of a compact jet in 4U 1543− 47”

  19. Baglio M. C., et al., 2020, ApJ, 905, 87, “Probing Jet Launching in Neutron Star X-Ray Binaries: The Variable and Polarized Jet of SAX J1808.4–3658”

  20. Saikia P. et al., 2019, ApJ, 887, 21, “Lorentz Factors of compact jets in black hole XRBs”

  21. Saikia P. et al., 2018, A&A, 616, A152, “15-GHz radio emission from nearby low-luminosity AGN”

  22. Saikia P. et al., 2018, MNRAS, 477, 2119, “1.4 GHz on the Fundamental Plane of black hole activity”

  23. Baldi R. et al., 2018, MNRAS 476, 3478, “LeMMINGsI. eMERLIN legacy survey of nearby galaxies”

  24. Baglio M. C. et al., 2018, ApJ, 867, 114, “A wildly flickering jet in MAXI J1535–571”

  25. Saikia P. et al., 2016, MNRAS, 461, 297, “Lorentz factor distribution of blazars”

  26. Saikia P. et al., 2015, MNRAS, 450, 2317, “Fundamental Plane of black hole activity in optical 

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Astronomer's Telegrams (55+, showcasing a few selected ones written with students)

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  • Saikia et al. 2023, ATel, 15940, "Searching for an optical counterpart of MAXI J1834-021"

  • Alnaqbi et al., 2023, ATel, 15719, "4U 1543-47 at quiescent levels before the recent re-brightening"

  • Saikia et al., 2022, ATel, 15248, "XB-NEWS confirms new outburst from the black-hole XRB IGR J17091-3624"

  • Alnaqbi et al., 2022, ATel, 15254, "Rapid optical/infrared brightening of 4U 1543-47 after the recent outburst"

  • Saikia et al., 2021, ATel, 14721, "The brightest optical outburst of 4U 1543-47"

  • Caruso et al., 2021, ATel, 14623, "Swift J1357. 2-0933 reaches its optical peak in the 2021 outburst"

  • Bahramian et al., 2020, ATel, 13961, “Swift/XRT detects hard-state X-ray emission from 2020 outburst of Aql X-1” 

  • Saikia et al., 2020, ATel, 13953“XB-NEWS detects a new outburst from Aquila X-1” 

  • Johar et al., 2020, ATel, 13779, “Fading of MAXI J0637-430 towards quiescence” 

  • Caruso et al., 2020, ATel, 13727, “Optical variability in Publications gamma-ray blazar VER J0521+ 211” 

  • Pirbhoy et al., 2020, ATel, 13451, “XB-NEWS detection of MAXI J1348-630” 

  • Yazeedi et al., 2019, ATel, 13710, “Rebrightening of MAXI J1348-630”

  • Pirbhoy et al., 2019, ATel, 13120, “Swift J1357.2-0933 is close to quiescence” 

Teaching and Outreach

Teaching Experience
 

  • Guest Lecturer, ‘Optical Astrophysics’ for B.Sc. Core Curriculum at NYUAD                   2023

  • Guest Lecturer, "Imaging of Black holes" for B.Sc. Core Curriculum at NYUAD             2022

  • Lecturer, annual Astronomy Camp, NYUAD                                                                                 2021-23

  • Space - B.Sc. Core Curriculum (NYUAD), with Dr. Dave Russell                                          2019-21

  • Black Holes and Accretion - M.Sc. Astrophysics (Radboud), with Dr. Elmar Koerding   2014-15

  • Newtonian Cosmology - B.Sc. Physics (Radboud), with Prof. Dr. Bram Achterberg         2014-16

  • The Universe - B.Sc. General Science (Radboud), with Prof. Dr. Gijs Nelemans                2013

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Supervising  Experience

 

  • 2022-23 :      Assisted in supervision of G. Katusiime (ASPIRE M.Sc. summer student at Univ of Amsterdam)

                                 Papers : ‘New ideas from old friends: revisiting XTE J1118+480’, Katusiime et al., in prep.

  • 2022-23 :      Supervised Jwaher Alnaqbi (NYUAD, research assistant) on projects on compact objects

                                 Papers : ‘Long-term optical monitoring of IC 10 X−2’, Alnaqbi, Gelfand, Saikia et al., in prep.          

                                                 ‘Multi-wavelength analysis of BHXB 4U1543-47’, Alnaqbi,Saikia,Russell et al., in prep

                                  ATels : Alnaqbi et al. 2022, ATel, 15254; Alnaqbi et al. 2022, ATel, 15719

  • 2021-22 :      Co-supervised the capstone project of Tengiz Ibrayev (NYUAD Bachelor’s student)

                                 Papers : ‘An optical cavity surrounding V404 Cyg’, Russell, Ibrayev, Saikia et al., in prep .

  • 2020-21 :      Co-supervised the capstone project of Eleonora Caruso (NYU Shanghai Bachelor’s student)

                                 Papers : ‘Swift J1357.2—0933 in quiescence and outbursts’, Caruso et al., in prep.

                                 ATels : Caruso et al. 2020, ATel, 13732; Caruso et al. 2020, ATel, 14132; Caruso et al. 2020,

                                                ATel, 14133; Caruso et al. 2021, ATel, 14415; Caruso et al. 2021, ATel, 14623

  • 2019-20 :      Co-supervised the capstone project of Saarah Pirbhoy (NYUAD Bachelor’s student)

                                 Papers : Saikia, Russell, Pirbhoy et al. 2023, ApJ, 949 ; Russell et al. 2020, MNRAS, 495, 182;  

                                                 Saikia, Russell, Pirbhoy et al. 2022, MNRAS, 524, 4543.

                                 ATels : Pirbhoy et al. 2019, ATel, 13120 ; Pirbhoy et al. 2020, ATel, 13451

  • 2018-23 :      Assisted in the supervision of multiple research projects by

    • C. Blake, A. Sharma, K. Q. Canales (capstone projects);

    • C. Cho & S. Waterval (Phd research rotation);

    • Y. Heikal (internship project) 

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Outreach Activities and Community services

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  • 2023 :            Delivered several public talks on astrophysics at remote Govt. schools of UAE

                               Part of the “Scientists in Residence” program of MBRAS - The UAE Academy of Scientists

  • 2023 :            Local Organizing Committee, International conference on Timescales in Astrophysics, UAE

  • 2023+:           Telescope scheduler and Member, International collaborations on radio astronomy :

                                X-KAT (MeerKAT open-time programme to observe XRBs in radio band, PI: Rob Fender.)

  • 2021-2023 : Core member, Diversity in Science Committee, MBRAS - The UAE Academy of Scientists  

                                Conducted a large-scale nation-wide survey on “Factors affecting Women scientist’s retention

                                in the UAE” and prepared a manuscript for publication.

  • 2021-2023 : Lecturer for the Annual Astronomy Camps organized by NYUAD for students in UAE

  • 2021-2023 : Reviewer for manuscripts at Nature, Astrophysical Journal, Advances in Space Research,

                                Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Astrophysics and Space Science 2

  • 021-2023 :    Life membership, Astronomical Society of India

  • 2018-2023 :  Member, International collaborations on radio astronomy :

    • LEMMINGS (The eMERLIN legacy survey of nearby galaxies)

    • ThunderKAT (The HUNt for Dynamic and Explosive Radio Transients with meerKAT)

  • 2011-2023 :  Delivered several public talks on Astrophysics, impacting 3500+ students in India

  • 2010-2023 :  Global coordinator for SPIC MACAY, youth cultural awareness movement with

                                 1000+ chapters globally, organizing over 5000 events annually throughout the world

  • 2022-2023:   Reviewer for optical/infrared telescope proposals for the European Southern Observatory

  • 2022 :              Invited talk on “Women in STEM” at a student club associated with Girl Up, United Nations

  • 2021 :              Seminar on “History of Astronomy” in Sheikh Zayed Academy for Girls, Abu Dhabi, UAE

  • 2010-2020 :   Blogged on Science, Space and Travel, reaching 35000+ readers

  • 2017-2019 :   Escorted and guided students of NYUAD on astronomy tours to Sharjah Planetarium, UAE

  • 2017 :              Invited Public talk and interaction with ~250 students, Guwahati Book Fair, India

  • 2013-2017 :   Public outreach volunteer at Radboud University telescope nights, Netherlands

  • 2015 :              Outreach Member, Publicity team, Nederlandse Sterrenkunde Olympiade, Netherlands

  • 2010 :              Core organizer team, St Stephen's Annual Science Fest for undergraduates in Delhi, India

  • 2009 :              Core organizer team, E-Fiesta (Annual Electronic Fest) for high-school students in Delhi 

Conferences and Workshops

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  • CfA high energy seminar, Harvard & Smithsonian, Boston, USA                                   USA 2023 (Hybrid)

​​       "Low-level accretion in quiescence : Case of Swift J1910” 

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  • Chandra/HETG meeting, MIT, Boston, USA                                                                       USA 2023 

      "Black hole accretion with optical observations’ "​   

                 

  • Leading the discussion during the "Idea session", Lorentz Center, Leiden                   Greece 2023                      

      "Multi-wavelength observations of Changing-look AGN"​     

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  • Invited Physics Seminar, Department of Physics, Khalifa University                               UAE 2023

​​       "Understanding accretion in black hole X-ray binaries with optical telescopes"

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  • Seminar, Sera Markoff's Accretion Group, University of Amsterdam                             Netherlands 2023 

      "Low-level accretion in Quiescence - the case of Swift J1910.2-0546"​   

                 

  • Leading the discussion during the "Idea session", Lorentz Center, Leiden                    Netherlands 2022                      

      "Multi-wavelength observations of Changing-look AGN"​     

               

  • Contributed talk, ThunderKAT workshop, University of Cape Town                            South Africa 2022                      

      "The peculiar Hardness intensity diagram of Swift J1910.2-0546"​                     

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  • Invited Seminar, Department of Physics, Al Ain University                                                UAE 2022

​​       "Understanding accretion in black hole X-ray binaries with optical telescopes"

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  • Invited Seminar, Accretion Group, University of Cambridge                                             UK 2022 (Hybrid)

       "Accretion in X-ray Binaries : recent clues from optical monitoring"

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  • Contributed talks, COSPAR Scientific Assembly                                                                   Greece 2022       â€‹

         "High amplitude optical variations in 10 years data of Swift J1910.2-0546"

         "A higher distance to GRS 1716-249 : estimation from multi-wavelength data"

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  •  Contributed talk, Growing black holes : accretion and mergers                                         Nepal 2022      â€‹

         "Seven reflares and a mini-outburst from optical monitoring of Swift J1910"

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  • Contributed talk, 9th Microquasar Workshop                                                                          Italy 2021 (Hybrid)

         "Black hole X-ray binary Lorentz factors"

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  • Contributed talks, COSPAR - 2021                                                                                            Australia 2021 (Hybrid)

         “Lorentz factor of X-Ray binary jets”

         “Fundamental plane of black hole activity”

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  •  Invited Seminar, JIVE, Amsterdam                                                                                            Netherlands 2020 (Hybrid)

      ​ “Relativistic jets in black holes ”

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  •  Invited Seminar, ARGI Author series, Independent University Bangladesh                Bangladesh 2020 (Hybrid)

         “Disc-jet coupling and mass-scaling of black holes ”

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  • Contributed Talk, High Energy Phenomena in Relativistic Outflows VII                     Spain 2019

         “Lorentz factor of Compact jets in Black hole X-ray binaries””

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  • Contributed Talk, Outflows 2019 workshop                                                                             Netherlands 2019

         “Lorentz factor of Compact jets in Black hole X-ray binaries”

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  • Contributed Talk, Cargese Cosmic explosion summer school                                             France 2019

      ​ “How fast are the X-ray binary jets”

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  • Flash Talk, Thunderkat workshop                                                                                                South Africa 2018

         “Observing GRO 1655-40 in Quiescence using MeerKAT ”

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  • Contributed Talk, First Sharjah International Conference on PPAC                              Sharjah UAE 2018

      ​ “How fast are the jets in stellar-mass black holes”

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  • Seminar Talk, Northwestern University                                                                                      Illinois USA 2017
    “The Fundamental Plane of black hole activity”

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  • Seminar Talk, University of Oxford                                                                                              Oxford UK 2017

         “Fundamental Plane of black hole activity in the optical band”

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  • Seminar Talk, University of Southampton                                                                                 Southampton UK 2017

        “Optical Fundamental Plane of active black holes”

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  • Contributed Talk, Dutch Astronomy Conference                                                                  Netherlands 2017

        “FIRST 1.4 GHz fluxes to probe AGN core nuclear activities”

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  • Contributed Talk, Quasars at all cosmic epochs                                                                       Italy 2017

        “1.4 GHz on Fundamental Plane to probe nuclear activities of AGN”

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  • Poster presentation, Blazars through sharp multi-wavelength eyes                                    Spain 2016

        “Using the Fundamental Plane to constrain Blazar jet physics”

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  • Contributed Talk, Extragalactic Relativistic Jets                                                                      India 2015

        “Constraining Jet Physics with the Fundamental Plane”

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  • Contributed Talk, Netherlands Accretion and Jet Theory meeting                                   Netherlands 2014  

        “Discovery of Optical Fundamental Plane of black hole activity”

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  • Poster presentation, The X-Ray Universe, ESA conference                                                 Ireland 2014

        “Fundamental Plane of black hole activity in the optical band”

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  • Contributed Talk, Dutch Astronomy Conference                                                                   Netherlands 2014

        “Fundamental Plane of black hole activity in the optical band”

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  • Contributed Talk, Workshop on AGN and Gravitational Lensing                                  Serbia 2012 

        “UV and optical spectral properties of a sample of broad line AGN”

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