Gürdal Ertek received his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering at Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey. Gurdal was then awarded a one-year Fulbright scholarship for an M.S. in the U.S.A, and pursued his degree at School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Upon completion of his degree, he started the Ph.D. program at the same school. Throughout his graduate studies, he served as graduate research assistant for The Logistics Institute (TLI), as teaching assistant in the school, and as the system administrator of TLI. In December 2001, he received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering. He joined the faculty of Manufacturing Systems/Industrial Engineering Program at Sabanci University in May 2002.