Dr. Smallwood is interested in science policy and science diplomacy. He was selected as a Jefferson Science Fellow by the National Academies of Sciences for the 2018-19 academic year He has worked as a science advisor to individual US Senators and the Senate Homeland Security/Government Affairs committee. He was the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s program in Afghanistan (2008—2009), and ran the US State Department’s program for Iraqi scientists (2004-05). He teaches conservation biology, science policy, and ecology.