Ms. Sobharani Lakra centers on handloom textiles, material culture, and the cultural semiotics of traditional Indian craft practices. She teaches undergraduate courses and leads research in craft-based textiles. She has co-authored several papers on the chromatic, economic, and environmental dimensions and co-authored two books on conventional textiles and fashion. She was honored with a certificate of appreciation for her contribution in reviving the languishing painting called the Jadupatia painting in 2013 by the Govt. of Jharkhand (Dept. of Industries). She previously served as UI projects, Bhubaneswar, from July 2016 to January 2027. Center Coordinator of Fashion Design (CCFD) from January 2017 to February 2021, Cluster Initiative Coordinator (CIC) from February 2021 to February 2024.