Sprenger's interests focus on the fields of behavioral economics and experimental economics. His research includes local and global investigation into subjects such as intertemporal choice behavior, economic risk preferences and the relationship of time preferences to certain economic behaviors. Prior to coming to the Rady School of Management, Sprenger was an assistant professor of economics at Stanford University. He received his PhD in economics from the University of California, San Diego, and his M.Sc. in economics from University College London.