Mahammad Babanli was born in 1952. In 1968, he was admitted to Baku State University, Faculty of Chemistry, graduating with honors in 1973. The same year he started his postgraduate studies at the Department of Physical and Colloidal Chemistry. In 1977, he defended a PhD thesis, and obtained a ScD degree in 1988. In 2014, he was elected a corresponding member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. He was elected a full member of the Academy of Sciences named after Lotfi Zadeh in 2001. In 1977, Mahammad Babanli joined BSU as a junior research fellow. In 1979, he was promoted to a senior research fellow. In 1983, he was made a teacher, and elected an associate professor in 1986. From 1986 to 1991, he served as deputy dean of the Faculty of Chemistry. In 1989, Mahammad Babanli was elected a professor at the Department of Physical and Colloidal Chemistry, achieving professorship in 1990. From 1992 to 1994, he worked as BSU vice-rector for evening and correspondence education, and as academic secretary from 1994 to 2002. From 1994 to 2005, he chaired the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, where he now holds professorship. He also serves as academic head of Inorganic Material Studies Research Laboratory.

His research interests lie in chemistry, thermodynamics and material studies of complex inorganic systems with functional qualities. Mahammad Babanli has published nearly 650 papers, including three monographs, 10 textbooks and education handbooks for higher schools, and nearly 200 articles in impact factor journals. He has supervised one ScD, 28 PhD and nearly 30 master students to completion, including citizens of Syria, Vietnam, Republic of Korea and Afghanistan.

From 1993 to 1997, he served as a member and deputy chairman of the Expert Council on Chemistry, Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He chaired the council from 1997 to 2000. He was named person of the year by the American Bibliographical Institute in 2000.

He is the recipient of “Taraqqi” Medal and a diploma of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.