TITLE: Computational algebra: where?
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: I'm on my last semester of a math B.Sc. and about to start studying for a math M.Sc in the same institute.
It now seems like a good time to start thinking of a PhD.
I'm interested in both algebra and algorithms. So I read a little in some computational algebra books (comp. group theory to be precise) and it looks like a great choice for me.
My questions:
1. Is this a "hot topic" in mathematics? Are there many serious people researching it?
2. Where are the major places in the world to research comp. algebra and to get a PhD?
Thank you!

REPLY [3 votes]: Some other suggestions:
The University of Auckland (Eamonn O'Brien and Marston Conder)
The University of Warwick (Derek Holt)
I did my MSc with Eamonn O'Brien and my PhD with Derek Holt, and can recommend them both as supervisors.  You are welcome to contact me by email (which you can find on my website) if you have any specific questions about either university.