Dr. Smith joined the faculty of the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences in the College of Home Economics (later Human Ecology and now within the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences) in 1960 and remained on its faculty until his retirement in 1991. His research in sulphur-containing amino acids and metabolic obesity brought him and the university widespread recognition, both in the United States and abroad. He authored or coauthored nearly one hundred articles and abstracts in his specialty, presented papers at scholarly meetings throughout the country, and designed a variety of research tools and instruments for his own use and that of his students.
For many years, he served as a judge at the Appalachian Science Fair. His intellectual contributions to the life of the university have been recognized by placement of a plaque in his honor on a faculty study.