Emma Hakala defended her doctoral dissertation in political history at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Helsinki in September 2018. Her research examined the securitisation of environment and the role of international organizations in its development in the post-conflict Western Balkans.

Hakala has also done research and published on sustainable energy issues, water sustainability in Nepal as well as climate security. She has given lectures and courses on environmental security and human rights as well as environmental policy in regional settings.  She currently acts as vice chair of the Board of the Historians without Borders initiative and has other positions of trust in several bodies at the University of Helsinki.