Her research broadly focuses on the effects of inequality outside of schools on processes inside schools and educational outcomes. Recent studies use quantitative methodologies to apply this lens to disabilities (e.g., learning disabilities, autism, ADHD), the experience of teaching, and youth’s social psychological health. A CAREER award from the National Science Foundation supports her research on the school and teacher factors that reduce disparities by socioeconomic status, race, and disability in adolescents’ math and science progress. Shifrer is also a research affiliate at Rice University’s Houston Education Research Consortium.