I'm at this tiny little research school called Clark University, scrambling to finish up my master's thesis (some phylogenetics and some real time PCR type stuff with diatoms). Next semester I'll be starting at UConn doing systematics of desert soil chlorophyta. Riveting, I know, but I like making trees. My work will combine molecular and morphological approaches. Thus far, I haven't done anything with morphology in algae. Will have a lot to learn.

Well, UPenn has something of a name, and hopefully your advisor will hook you up with all the contacts you need. I'll have a lot more problems coming out of UConn (if I survive). Granted, not very many other schools out there are big on algal phylogenetics/systematics, but then there isn't so much demand for that kind of stuff. We'll see.