Academician Rafiga Aliyeva was born on September 20, 1932 in the city of Nakhchivan. After graduating from high school, she received her higher education in 1951-1956 at the Faculty of Chemistry at Azerbaijan State University (now Baku State University). She began her labor activity in 1956-1960 at the Institute of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (nowadays, academician M. Nagiyev Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry). In 1960 she was admitted to postgraduate study on the specialty of Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Analytical Chemistry of ASU. From 1964 till end of her life she worked at the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the university and passed the life of the assistant, the senior teacher, the docent, the professor. In 1970, she defended her PhD dissertation on the theme "Spectrophotometric investigation of compounds forming by germanium with some organic reagents and its determination by photometric method" on the specialty of "Analytical chemistry", and in 1999 for the degree Doctor of Chemistry "Mixed-ligand complexes of d-, f-elements and germanium with ligands containing N-, S-, O- and their analytical application". In 1999 she received the title of Professor in the field of Analytical Chemistry and worked as a Professor of analytical chemistry department. From 2001 to the end of her life she worked as the Head of the Scientific Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Protection, established at her initiative at BSU. In 2007, she was elected as corresponding member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, and in 2014 she was elected as a full member. She is the first academician in the field of analytical chemistry in Azerbaijan.

Academician Rafiga Aliyeva, who dedicated her life to chemistry, has devoted her knowledge and skills to the training of highly qualified staff in this field. Research of the scientist engaged in scientific and educational activities for more than half a century, is devoted to identifying the relationship between the parameters that characterize the analytical reactions and the structure of complex compounds. In this field, Rafiga khanim has developed a series of researches of the metal ions directly related to environmental protection, with the help of organic reagents, and also established the definition and method of their separation. Her works on actual problems of ecology has contributed to provide the sustainable development of our country. Under her guidance were defended 2 doctoral and 20 candidate dissertations on theoretical and practical issues of analytical chemistry. Academician Rafiga Aliyeva is the author of 2 monographs, 33 textbooks and training aids, 20 patents and more than 520 articles.

The book "Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry" in 2 volumes and "Ana­lytical Chemistry Problems and Questions",  published by the staff of the Department of Analytical Chemistry of Moscow State University under her guidance has been translated into Azerbaijani.

These books have played an important role in the development of teachers, researchers and PhD students in higher education institutions in Azerbaijan.

Under the guidance of Academician Rafiga Aliyeva scientific and research works have been carried out in the scientific-research laboratory "Environmental Chemistry and Environmental Protection" with the subordinate enterprises of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic. As a result of this works, Baku State University gained a lot of profit. Based on the results of the economic contracts, environmental pollution has been assessed, and new, inexpensive and economically viable methods for the separation of harmful and heavy metals have been developed.

Academician Rafiga Aliyeva was a participant of International symposiums and conferences held in the USA, Turkey, Russia, Japan, Australia and other countries. She was a Deputy Chairman of the Dissertation Defense Council D 02.011, operating at the Baku State University and a member of the Scientific Councils of the Baku State University and the Faculty of Chemistry.

Scientific-pedagogical activity of academician Rafiga Aliyeva was properly evaluated by the Azerbaijan State. Under the decree of the President of Azerbaijan she was awarded the "Order of Honorary Scientist" in 2000 and the "Order of Glory" in 2009. She is a laureate of the award named after academician Yusif Mammadaliyev. In 2000, academician Rafiga Aliyeva was elected as a full member of the New York Academy of Sciences, and in 2001 she was elected as the "man of 2001" and "business woman of 2001" by the American Bibliography Institute. In 2003-2004 academician Rafiga Aliyeva was awarded the "Honorary Decree" of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2005, she was awarded honorary title of "Scientist of the Year", established by Baku State University, and text-books "Ecology" and "General Ecology" were honored with Hasan Aliyev Award, established by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Academician Rafiga Aliyeva was the Honorary Chairman of Sevil women's society.