Irina P. Terenetskaya received the M.S. degree in Physics in 1965 from the Kiev State University, Ukrainian SSR, the Ph.D. degree (Candidate of Phys.-Math. Sci.) in Solid State Physics in 1973 from the Institute of Physics, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, and the Dr.Sci. degree (Doctor of Phys.-Math. Sci.) in Optics and Laser Physics in 2006 from the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv.

During 1965-1980 she worked as an engineer, post-graduate student and junior scientist at the Department of Optical Quantum Electronics at the Institute of Physics, studying spectral isotopic effects in molecular crystals. In 1974 she joined the laser group and worked on tunable dye-lasers, laser absorption spectroscopy and remote sensing of air pollution.

In 1980 she received the scientific title 'Senior Scientist' in Optics and began detailed studies on provitamin D photochemistry using tunable lasers and UV absorption spectroscopy. In 1994 she proposed the new method of solar UVB dosimetry in situ that is based on spectral monitoring of vitamin D synthesis in vitro. In 2000 she started development of personal UV biodosimeter with visual indication of vitamin D synthesis. She conducts interdisciplinary researches in physics, chemistry, photobiology, and ecology.