The FMRIB Analysis Group has played a major role in the Human Connectome Project, UK Biobank Imaging, and the Developing Human Connectome Project. Smith leads the brain imaging component of UK Biobank, along with Karla Miller.
Smith was an editor at NeuroImage from 2011, eventually becoming Editor in Chief in 2022. In 2023 all editors resigned and
started a new journal, Imaging Neuroscience, where Smith is founding Editor in Chief.