He earned his bachelor's degree in International Relations from Bilkent University, a master's degree in Architectural History from the Middle East Technical University, and a doctorate in International Relations from Bilkent University. After completing his doctoral research, he conducted a research project at the King's College Department of Defence Studies. Since 2011, he has been working as a faculty member in the Department of International Relations at TOBB Economics and Technology University. His research focuses on de facto states, conflict, democratization, Turkish foreign policy, and contemporary Middle East policies. His research has been published in journals such as the Journal of International Relations and Development, International Journal, Iran and the Caucasus, Turkish Studies, Global Governance, Israel Affairs, Middle East Critique, and All Azimuth. In 2017, his book "Peace Process Between Turkey and the Kurds: Anatomy of a Failure" was published by Routledge. Burak Bilgehan Özpek teaches courses on Middle East policies and research methods.