Mihai Emilian Popa holds an M.S. in geology and Ph.D. in geology. He studied at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics. Having spent 23 years at the University of Bucharest in Bucharest, in 2000 he joined the University of Bucharest, where he holds the position of professor in the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics and director of Research center for Coal Geology and Environmental protection. Mihai Emilian Popa is Fulbright Scholar in University Florida in Gainesville (USA) and Marie Curie More Experienced Senior Researcher in University College Dublin (UCD) in Dublin.

His main research interests include paleobotany, palynology, paleozoology, paleoclimatology, botany, tectonics, and the history of Earth sciences. Mihai Emilian Popa has authored or co-authored more than 100 papers, book chapters and conference abstracts published in Romania and abroad and is the member of the following editorial boards: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (Palaeo3, Amsterdam), Palaeodiversity (Stuttgart), Volumina Jurassica (Var ovia), Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae (Cluj-Napoca), Acta Palaeobotanica (Cracovia), Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India (Lucknow), Fossil imprint (Praga). He is a member of the Geological Society of Romania, National Council of Romanian Geologists (CNGR), Palaeontolgoical Society of Romania, Life and Earth Sciences Committee (LESC), European Science Foundation (ESF), Earth System Science and Environmental Management (ESSEM), Earth Science Commission of CNATDCU (currently Vicepresident of the the Earth Science Commission of CNATDCU), and International Organization of Palaeobotany (IOP) (as vice-president from 2010-2015). He is also the expert of Research Executive Agency (REA) al European Commission (EC).