pɹˈaɪɚ tə wˈɜːkɪŋ æt ðə pˈoʊst, smˈɪθ wʌzɐ sˈiːnjɚ ɹˈaɪɾɚ fɚðə nˈuːz ænd kˈɑːmɛnt sˈɛkʃən ʌv sˈaɪəns mˌæɡɐzˈiːn ɪn wˈɑːʃɪŋtən, dˈiː.sˈiː., ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ ɐbˌaʊt nˈæʃənəl sᵻkjˈʊɹɹᵻɾi ˈɪʃuːz, ðə spˈeɪs pɹˈoʊɡɹæm, ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɹˌɛɡjʊlˈeɪʃənz, ænd ðɪ ɛnvˈaɪɹənmənt.
Prior to working at The Post, Smith was a senior writer for the News and Comment section of Science Magazine in Washington, D.C., writing about national security issues, the space program, government regulations, and the environment.