Snell began his independent research career with an appointment as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin in 1941, advancing to associate professor in 1943.
During his career Snell served on a number of scientific journal editorial boards, most notably as the editor of the Annual Review of Biochemistry from 1968 to 1983 and of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications from 1970 to 1985 [REF].