Prof. Dr. Ilkay Erdogan Orhan holds a Pharmacist degree (1993) from Gazi University (Ankara, Türkiye), 1st M.Sc. degree from the Department of Pharmacognosy at the same Faculty (1996) with a young scientist scholarship provided by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK). Then, she was awarded her second M.Sc. degree in Marine Natural Product Chemistry in 1998 at the University of the Ryukyus in Japan, supported by a Monbusho scholarship. She earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University (Ankara, Türkiye) in 2002. She was a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Winnipeg (Canada) in 2003 under the NATO-TUBITAK fellowship program. She was promoted to Assoc. Prof. position by the Higher Education Council (Türkiye) in 2004 and to full professor in 2009. Dr. Orhan was appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Eastern Mediterranean University in Northern Cyprus (2011-2014) and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Gazi University in Ankara (2016-2024). She is Vice President of the International Scientific Evaluation Board of the Austrian Drug Screening Institute (ADSI).

Dr. Orhan received several awards such as Young Woman Scientist Award in Asia continent by OWSD (Organization of Women in Science in Developing Countries) & Elsevier, Science Award in Biology by COMSTECH (OIC Standing Committee on Science and Technological Cooperation) in 2010, Young Woman Scientist Award (in Life Sciences) by L’Oreal & Turkish Academy of Sciences in 2011, and Honor Award by Gazi University in 2011, Innovation Award for Women in Turkey in 2015, Science Award by Turkish Association of Pharmacists in 2016, Golden Mortar Science Award in Pharmacy in 2017, Silver Medal for Patent in International Invention Fair by Turkish Ministry of Science and Technology in 2017 as well as Best Academic Invention Medal by International Federation of Invention Associations (IFIA) in 2018. She also received the TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences) Science Award in Chemistry and a Certificate of Outstanding Service and Achievement from the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Foundation (TÜSİAV) and Climate Ambassador Award by the Turkish Vegan and Healthy Life Tourism Association (TEVSAD) & Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Foundation (TÜSİAV) & Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in 2024. She is the principal member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) and was the Representative of Southeast Europe & Turkey Region for the Phytochemical Society of Europe (PSE) for 2019-2023.

She is the author of more than 295 scientific papers listed by SCE, 47 articles in other scientific journals, 24 book chapters, 4 patents (Turkish, US, & EP), 6 patent applications, and 4 books. Her h index is 56 (Web of Science) and 60 (SCOPUS) with over 15000 citations. Her research interests are chemistry and bioactivities of natural products, natural cosmetics, phytotherapy, sports pharmacy, and aromatherapy. She is currently Associate Editor of Phytomedicine.