Dr. Sasmita Panda is currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Textile Design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Government of India, Hyderabad. With a distinguished academic and professional career spanning over 29 years in both industry and higher education, she has made significant contributions to textile design education, research, and craft development.

Her core areas of expertise and academic interest include Traditional Textiles, Textile Art, Surface Embellishment, Garment Construction, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Craft Clusters (Handloom and Handicrafts), and Design Colloquium initiatives. She has been actively involved in capacity-building and skill enhancement programmes, particularly in “Training the Trainers” projects focused on Resist Dyeing, Hand Embroidery, Garment Construction, and Surface Techniques.

Dr. Panda has played a pivotal role in coordinating and contributing to Geographical Indication (GI) certification processes for several renowned crafts of Odisha, including Patachitra Painting, Konark Stone Carving, and Pipli Appliqué Craft. Her engagement in these initiatives reflects her strong commitment to safeguarding traditional knowledge systems and promoting intellectual property awareness among artisan communities.

She has extensively worked in the Bargarh and Barpali regions of Western Odisha, leading design intervention and product development initiatives within the handloom sector. Through these efforts, she has supported artisan clusters in enhancing product innovation, market relevance, and sustainable livelihoods while preserving traditional craftsmanship.

An active academic and researcher, Dr. Panda has published and presented numerous research papers and articles in national and international journals, newspapers, and academic seminars. Her work bridges academia, industry, and grassroots craft communities.