The director of the Natural History Museum in London has been named as the next head of Wadham College, Oxford.

Sir Neil Chalmers will take up the post of warden in October 2004.

Sir Neil, who has been director of the famous museum in South Kensington since 1988, was educated at King's College School, Wimbledon, Magdalen College, Oxford, and St John's College, Cambridge.

His research interest is the social behaviour of primates and he has worked in Uganda and Kenya.

Sir Neil was at the Open University from 1970-88 and was Dean of Science from 1985-88.

He will succeed John Flemming, the warden since 1993, who is retiring in July.

In the meantime, the post will be filled by Sub-Warden Jeffrey Hackney, who said Sir Neil was the first scientist to be warden of the college.

"Sir Neil will bring with him not only the benefits from his discipline but also his experiences from the thriving academic community in the museum," he said.

"He will also bring skills needed at this important time in further promoting the qualities of the college and of the university to Government and the wider world."

He added: "In the mid-seventeenth century the college offered hospitality to the group of distinguished scientists who formed the nucleus of the Royal Society, and we especially look forward to making new acquaintances with members of the scientific community with whom our new warden has and will have contact."