Her father, Atanase Leonida, was a career officer while her mother, Matilda Gill, was the daughter of a French-born engineer.

Due to prejudices against women in the sciences, Zamfirescu was rejected by the School of Bridges and Roads in Bucharest.

She led several geology laboratories and participated in various field studies, including some that identified new resources of coal, shale, natural gas, chromium, bauxite and copper.

An award for women working in science and technology was established in her name, the Premiul Elisa Leonida-Zamfirescu.

A street in Sector 1 of Bucharest bears her name,[9] and she was honoured with a Google Doodle on the anniversary of her birthday in 2018.