Akif Alizadeh

Akif Alizadeh was born in Baku.

He studied at the Geological and Exploration Faculty of the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute.

In 1957, he began his career at the Institute of Geology of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. At first, he defended his candidate of sciences, and at the age of 35, he defended his doctoral dissertation. He was one of the youngest highly qualified specialists in the USSR and the youngest deputy director in the system of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. Since 1970, he has been the deputy director of the Institute, and since 1976, its director. He served as the president of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (2013–2019). He is the director of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics.

Honored Scientist (1991), laureate of the State Prize (1991). 

He was awarded the orders "Shohrat" (2004), "Sharaf" (2009) and "Istiglal" (2014).