She is known for being the first American woman scientist to live and work in the interior of the Antarctic, where she developed new methods to analyze the deep glacial ice by studying the effect it has on radio waves.

[10] After graduating from the University of Colorado from 1947 to 1949, Irene worked as a junior engineer for Delaware Power and Light Company, and then for Aircraft Radio systems Laboratory of the Stanford Research Institute from 1949 to 1950.

[14] In 1970, Irene became the first American woman engineer or scientist to conduct research in the Antarctic interior.

[3] While there, she conducted research with a grant from the Polar Upper Atmosphere Program at the National Science Foundation.

[10][19][20] This might sound very minor but the author[21] of one of only a tiny number of 'career novels' mentioning that engineering could also be for girls, noted her special thanks to Peden in 1966, presumably for helping with the background reality for young women entering the male-majority profession.

Peden received the Society of Women Engineers' Achievement Award in 1973 as well as the U.S. Army's Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in 1987 for her research and work in the Antarctic.

[1][dead link‍] Among her other numerous awards she was inducted into the ASEE Engineering Educators Hall of Fame.

[23][1][dead link‍][10] Irene Peden received the Diamond Award from the University of Washington in 2018 which is given to alumni and others who have made great strides in the field of engineering.