In 1965, he graduated from the Faculty of Biology at Azerbaijan State University (now Baku State University) and entered the postgraduate program at the Institute of General Genetics of the USSR Academy of Sciences the same year.
Urxan Alakbarov received his Candidate of Sciences degree in 1968 and Doctor of Sciences degree in 1978. In 1983, he was elected as a corresponding member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and in 1989, as a full member.
He began his career in 1965 at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. From 1968 to 1978, he worked at the ANAS Institute of Botany as junior researcher, scientific secretary, deputy director for scientific affairs, and director. From 1987 to 1996, he served as vice-president of ANAS. He was the director of the ANAS Institute of Genetics and Breeding from 1988 to 2002 and served as an advisor to ANAS until 2011.
By the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 27, 2011, he was appointed rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On April 26, 2013, he was awarded the Order of Glory (“Şöhrət”).
Academician Urxan Alakbarov is the author of 320 scientific works, including 34 books and textbooks.
Under Urxan Alakbarov’s supervision, 22 candidates of philosophy and doctorates have been trained.