He received his bachelor's degree in biology at California State College, Bakersfield, and his doctorate in metabolic physiology from the University of California, Davis. Before joining the department, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Research Chemist at the USDA Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, Nebraska.

Dr. Smith teaches meat science, nutrition and physiological nutrition courses. He also conducts research on the growth and development of adipose tissue, particularly in the bovine species. He has investigated the limitation of cattle to marble and has used his background in molecular biology to investigate lipid metabolism in the bovine muscle.

Dr. Smith has received national and international recognition, including being named the American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Outstanding Young Animal Scientist Award in 1988. He was a keynote speaker at the 34th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology held in Brisbane, Australia, where he presented "Adipose Tissue Growth and Development in Livestock Species." In 2003, he received the Vice Chancellor's Award in Excellence for International Involvement.

Professional memberships include the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Institute of Nutrition, the American Meat Science Association, the American Society of Animal Science, Phi Tau Sigma and the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.