In 1978, after graduating from Department 43 of the Faculty of Physics and Technics, TPI, Zherin I.I. worked in the Department as an engineer, the head of the educational laboratory.

1979-1982 – post-graduate student in TPU; 1982-1985 – junior research assistant

In 1985 defended a PhD thesis and then worked as a senior research assistant

In 1986 – assistant, beginning from 1988 – senior teacher, beginning from 1990 – docent of the Department 43.

From 1998 till 2008 - the head of the department "Chemical technology of rare and radioactive elements".

In 2006 - defense of the doctoral thesis, in 2009 the professorship was awarded.