We are delighted to announce that the Vice-Chancellor has appointed Professor Mark Brown to be the next Director of the University Museum of Zoology and Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.

Mark is currently Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he holds a senior leadership position overseeing research strategy. Prior to this, he was Head of the Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour at Royal Holloway for 10 years.  

Mark has a particular interest in understanding the factors that ensure the health of pollinators. With projects covering host-parasite interactions, social insects and agroecology, Mark’s work will augment the Department’s existing research strengths in ecology, evolution and conservation and he will add to Zoology’s newly emerging focus on insects. His interest in the effects of pesticides on insect behaviour and health also align well with strengths in the wider Cambridge research community on insect connectomics and chemical ecology.  

We very much look forward to Mark joining us in January 2026.