  Let $A$ be an abelian variety over an algebraically closed field. We show that $A$ is the automorphism group scheme of some smooth projective variety if and only if $A$ has only finitely many automorphisms as an algebraic group. This generalizes a result of Lombardo and Maffei for complex abelian varieties. 
Abelian varieties as automorphism groups of smooth projective varieties   in arbitrary characteristics