Roland Dobbs Fulbright Scholar in Applied Mathematics (1958-1959) and Associate Professor of Physics (1959–1960) at Brown University, AEI Fellow at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge (1960-1964), Professor and Head of Department of Physics, University of Lancaster (1964-1973), Head of Department of Physics at Bedford College, University of London (1973–1985) and Hildred Carlile Professor (1973-90). Following the merger of Bedford and Royal Holloway College, he was Head of Department of Physics, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, 1985-90. On his retirement, he became Emeritus Professor. He held several visiting Professorships at Brown University, Rhode Island. U.S.A, Wayne State University, Michigan, U.S.A., University
Cavendish Laboratory of Devonshire had given to Maxwell, as head of the laboratory, the manuscripts of Henry Cavendish's unpublished "Electrical Works". The editing and publishing of these was Maxwell's main scientific work while he was at the laboratory. Cavendish's work aroused Maxwell's intense admiration and he decided to call the Laboratory (formerly known as the Devonshire Laboratory) the Cavendish Laboratory and thus to commemorate both the Duke and Henry Cavendish. Physical Chemistry (originally the department of Colloid Science led by Eric Rideal) had left the old Cavendish site, subsequently locating as the Department of Physical Chemistry (under RG Norrish) in the then