We are seeking a talented and highly motivated PhD student to work in the field of transient astrophysics with a special focus on large transient surveys in the era of big data astronomy. You will be involved in the observations and modeling of extreme astrophysical phenomena, such as supernova explosions, the tidal disruptions of stars around supermassive black holes, and the mergers of neutron stars. You will become part and play an active role in large international collaborations, and you will engage in searches for transient phenomena in large data streams by developing novel methods.