Ilhami COLAK was born in February 1962 in Develi, Kayseri. He graduated from Kayseri Technical High School in 1979. He entered Gazi University, Technical Education Faculty, Department of Electrical-Electronics Education in 1981 and graduated in 1985. He started his career as a Research Assistant in the same department in 1986. In 1998, he completed his military service as the 261st short-term private at Burdur Artillery Brigade (8 months).

In 1988, he received his M.Sc. degree from Gazi University, Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Electrical-Electronics Education, with a thesis titled "Speed control of wound rotor induction motors using semiconductors". In 1989, he was sent to England by Gazi University for his doctoral studies. In November 1991, he received his M.Phil. degree from the Department of Electrical-Electronics Engineering at Birmingham University, England, with a thesis titled "High frequency resonant DC link inverters". In November 1994, he received his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Aston University in Birmingham, England, with a thesis titled "Mixed-frequency testing of induction machine using inverter".

He returned to Turkey in December 1994 and started working at Gazi University, Technical Education Faculty, Department of Electrical Education. In April 1995, he was appointed as Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Energy Facilities Education, a position he still holds. He received the title of Associate Professor in November 1999. He served as Vice Head of the Department of Electrical Education for approximately 2 years between December 1998 and October 2000. Between July 19, 2002, and July 19, 2005, he served as the founding director of Gazi University Ataturk Vocational School. Between July 30, 2002, and August 26, 2004, he served as the acting founding director of Gazi University Gazi Vocational School. He received the title of Professor on October 14, 2005. He served as the Head of the Department of Electrical Education at Gazi University between 30/10/2006 and 23/05/2011. On 19/10/2011, he was appointed as a Professor to the Department of Electrical-Electronics Engineering at the Technology Faculty of Gazi University.

Prof. Dr. I. COLAK has published 97 papers in the Science Citation Index, 9 papers in the Engineering Index, 176 international conference papers in the Engineering Index, 27 international conference papers, 22 Turkish papers, 15 national conference papers, 5 textbooks, and 3 book chapters, totaling 354 publications on topics such as resonant converters, induction motor modeling and control, mixed-frequency temperature testing of induction motors, parameter calculation of induction motors, reactive power compensation, automation, parallel connection of power systems, artificial intelligence, vector control, alternative energy sources, renewable energy sources, smart grids, and distance education. He has received over 6950 citations for these publications. To date, Prof. Dr. I. COLAK has supervised 13 PhD and 19 Master's students working on various topics. In addition, he has completed 11 projects supported by the Gazi University Research Fund and 1 project supported by the DPT (State Planning Organization). He regularly takes part in the organization of 4 international conferences every year and is currently the editor of the International Journal of Renewable Energy Research (IJRER), the International Journal of Engineering Science and Application (IJESA), and the International Journal of Smart Grid (ijSmartGrid). He has been serving as the editor of the Journal of Power Electronics (JPE) since January 1, 2012. Between May 16, 2012, and September 15, 2014, he worked as an expert researcher at the European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC), Institute for Energy and Transport, Smart Grids Unit. Between September 16, 2014, and September 16, 2016, he served as Vice Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Istanbul Gelisim University. Since September 19, 2016, he has been serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Nisantasi University.