He is a specialist in the field of physical chemistry of macromolecular compounds and elected member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In 1997–2002, together with Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences A. R. Khokhlov, he led the scientific and educational program on polymers and annually gave lectures on macromolecular compounds at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark).

Shibaev is the author of fundamental scientific works in the field of synthesis, study of the structure and physicochemical properties of high-molecular compounds.

[6] Shibaev studied the deformation and rheological characteristics of comb-shaped polymers and described their extraordinary and strong structuring effect with respect to several organic solvents, which leads to the formation of thermoreversible gels.

Later on, this research served as the basis for the development of highly effective additives, used to suppress the turbulence in hydrodynamic resistance during the transport of hydrocarbons and oils via long-distance pipelines.

He was the first to obtain thermotropic polymer LC cholesterics and LC ferroelectrics, LCD composites with unique optical properties - thin-film spectrozonal filters, polaroids and reflectors for the infrared and visible spectral regions, photo- and electrically controlled coatings and films for orienting liquid crystals, for recording and storing information (electro-optics, display technology, photonics).

He has been the chairman of the specialized scientific council for the defense of candidate and doctoral dissertations at the Lomonosov Moscow State University (since 2007).

He has been a member of the editorial boards of periodical scientific publications: "Colloid & Polymer Science" (regional editor, 1998–2018), "Liquid Crystals" (1986-1991, 1998–2001), "Mendeleev Communications" (1986-1991), "Macromolecular Systems - Materials Approach" (since 1996), "Polymer Science" (1990-2005), "Chemical Physics" (1992-2002), "Bulletin of Moscow State University - Chemistry Series)" (since 1980), "Liquid Crystals and Their Practical Use" (since 2003 ), "Nature" (since 2010), "e-Polymer" (since 2011).