Vaqif Farzaliyev was born on 19 December 1939. In 1963, he graduated with honors from Baku Sate University, Faculty of Chemistry, and was dispatched to Azerbaijan Institute of Petrochemical Processes. The same year he started his postgraduate studies. In 1968, he defended a PhD thesis, and achieved a ScD degree in 1986. In 1987, he became a professor of petrochemistry. The same year he was appointed director of ANAS Institute of Chemistry of Admixtures named after A.M. Quliyev, a post he holds today.

Vaqif Farzaliyev is also a professor at the Department of Petrochemistry and Chemical Technology, and gives lectures on chemistry of admixtures and advices students who defend theses.

His research interests lie in scientific fundamentals of highly-efficient admixtures in relation to lubricating oils and fuels. He is researching into synthesis of new admixtures, their functional impact mechanisms and structure. He has published 290 papers, and is the holder of 50 authorship certificates and six patents. He has supervised three ScD and 15 PhD students to completion. In 2001, Vaqif Farzaliyev was elected a corresponding member and in 2007 a full member of ANAS.

From 2007 to 2014, he served as academic secretary at the academy`s Department of Chemical Sciences and academic secretary of its Presidium. In 2005, he was awarded “Shohrat” Order by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for his contribution to the development of science in the country.