He earned his doctorate in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he focused on international relations and security studies. He earned his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Brandeis University. Dr. Shifrinson’s research interests include grand strategy, power transitions, military operations, energy security, and diplomatic history. His research has been published in journals such as International Security and the Journal of Political and Military Sociology as well as by think tanks and research organizations. He participated in Bridging the Gap's New Era Graduate Training program in 2011.