He then joined the DuPont Company as a research chemist from 1964 to 1971 where he concentrated on high-pressure synthesis and precious metal oxide chemistry.
He then spent 1971 conducting post-doctorate studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, working with Chris Calvo on the crystal structures of a number of vanadates[2] and with David Brown on bond strength-bond length relationships useful in determining H locations in hydroxides and hydrates.
In 1982, he was granted another sabbatical leave from DuPont and worked on catalysis with zeolites at the Institute de Catalyse in Lyon, France.
[9] He has a number of patents on glass compositions, zeolite catalysts, noble-metal oxide, electrodes, and chemical compounds.
[11] The mineral bobshannonite,[12] Na2KBa(Mn,Na)8(Nb,Ti)4(Si2O7)4O4(OH)4(O,F)2, was named in his honor in recognition of his major contributions to the field of crystal chemistry in particular and mineralogy in general through his development of accurate and comprehensive ionic radii and his work on dielectric properties of minerals.