Prior to joining Wetlands Work! Ltd earlier in 2012, Irina worked on several water and sanitation projects in Cambodia. She received a PhD in Environmental Engineering in 2011 from UC Davis, and a MSc in Microbiology from the University of Helsinki in 2005. Her research interests include water quality, microbial degradation processes, waste management, and sanitation solutions for unique environments.

Wetlands Work! Ltd. is a socio-entrepreneurial organization that develops terrestrial and aquatic wastewater treatment systems which harness the beneficial microbial activity on roots of floating wetland plants. We also promote awareness of the value of natural wetlands as public infrastructure and valuable, biodiverse ecosystems. To be successful in Cambodia and elsewhere, our designs are efficient and sustainable, economical and easy to produce with locally available materials, readily adopted by users, and require minimal or no maintenance or energy and chemical inputs. WW! is currently developing  and testing wastewater treatment systems for floating communities in Cambodia's Tonle Sap and Burma's Lake Inle.