Abiogenesis research?

[jmbky1]

I'm going to begin working on my PhD in biochemistry this fall. Up until recently, my research interests were in the realm of protein structure, function, and evolution. However, my obsession with issues at the interface of science and religion over the past year or so has led me to become very interested in abiogenesis. I'm not religious at all, but questions of origin have always intrigued me.

Problem is, there isn't much research going on in the field. There isn't any going on at the university I'm going to, though I might be able to convince someone to sponsor me. But there isn't much abiogenesis research occurring at any university so my school of choice is obviously not the problem.

How do common scientists view abiogenesis? Any suggestions to my situation?