Research at SMBC
At SMBC we believe in life-long learning. For our faculty, this means a commitment to ongoing research in their areas of expertise. For our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students it is an opportunity to develop skills that will enable them to be life-long learners and leaders in educating God’s people throughout the world.
At SMBC we also believe that conversation and community are integral to both college life and scholarly practice. Our Research Seminars are held several times each year, forming a vital part of our program for both faculty and HDR students.
At our Research Seminars, faculty, HDR students and visiting scholars have the opportunity to present their work in a collegial environment, where their ideas are engaged by scholars from various disciplines. This provides opportunities for collaboration and fellowship as we support one another and strive for excellence in our research.
Our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program offers students a number of options, ranging from the one-year Master of Theology to doctoral studies in the fields of Theology, Mission, Practical Theology and Biblical Studies.
For details (including admission requirements) see:
HDR Supervisors
Supervisors and Expertise Areas
Dr Kit Barker
B.Sc (Mac Uni), M.Div, Th.M (TEDS), Th.D (ACT)
- Psalms
- Ezekiel
- Violence in Scripture
- Speech Act Theory
- Forgiveness
- Theological Interpretation

Dr Derek Brotherson
BA/LLB (Hons) (ANU), MDiv (SMBC/ACT), PhD (SMBC/ACT)
- Contextualisation
- The Theory and Practice of Application

Dr Janson Condren
B.A. (Maths) M.Div. Th.M, Ph.D (Old Testament)
- Genesis 1-11
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- 1 & 2 Samuel

Rev Dr Katy Davis
BTh(Hons) (ACT), AdvDipMin (ACT), MTh (ACT), PhD (Bristol)
- Pentateuch
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Contextual Hermeneutics

Rev Dr Karl Deenick
B.Eng (Hons, Medal) (USyd), B.Th (Hons) (RTC/ACT), PhD (Ridley/ACT), Dip.Mus. (UTAS)
- Biblical Theology
- Justification
- Regeneration
- Baptism

Dr Ed Grudier
BA, MDiv (Columbia International University), DMin (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary)
- Church Planting
- Cross-Cultural Communication
- Contextualisation

Dr Geoff Harper
Cert (HE) theol. (Gloucestershire), BTh (Hons) (SMBC/ACT), PhD (ACT)
- Leviticus
- Pentateuch
- Intertextuality
- Rhetorical Criticism

Rev Dr Ian Maddock
BSc (Hons) (UNSW), MDiv (SMBC/ACT), ThM (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), PhD (University of Aberdeen), FRHistS
- Wesley
- Whitefield
- Evangelicalism

Dr Tim Silberman
B.AppSc. (University of Sydney), M.Div. (SMBC/ACT), M.Th. (SMBC/ACT), PhD (University of Sydney)
- Missional Ecclesiology
- Leadership Development

Dr Mark Stephens
BA(Hons) (Macquarie), MDiv (ACT), PhD (Macquarie)
- Book of Revelation
- Early Christian Eschatology
- Resurrection belief in early Christianity

Dr Alan Thompson
M.Div., Ph.D (New Testament) (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)
- Luke/Acts
- Pauline Epistles
- Biblical Theology

Mission Research Network
For missions related research, SMBC is part of an expanding network of international missiological scholars with a broad range of experience and expertise.
Some of these supervisors teach in the Master of Intercultural Studies and some are members of the Angelina Noble Centre. If you are interested in doing research in missions, contact Dr Ed Grudier who will help you to find a supervisor with expertise in your area of interest.

Contact Us
Talk to Our Team Today
We’d love to start a conversation with you about Higher Degrees by Research – please feel free to contact us with any questions.