After gaining his PhD in 1953, Professor Smallman spent five years at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell, before returning to the University of Birmingham where he became Professor of Physical Metallurgy in 1964 and Feeney Professor and Head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy and Science of Materials in 1969. He subsequently became Head of the amalgamated Department of Metallurgy and Materials (1981), Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and the first Dean of the newly-created Engineering Faculty in 1985. For five years he was Vice-Principal of the University (1987–92). He has held visiting professorship appointments.
