Dr. Umakanta Mishra  taught as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack  as a permanent faculty from  March 10 2010 to February 29 2020. He is now teaching as an Associate Professor in the School of History, G.M University, Sambalpur since March 2, 2020 (On lien from Ravenshaw University).  He obtained his master’s degree from Utkal University in year 1994.  Received his M. Phil (1997) from CHS, JNU with Ancient India in January 1997 Ph. D (2005)  in Ancient Indian History from Centre for Historical Studies,  Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Title of Ph. D: Buddhism and Maritime Networks in Early Medieval Coastal Orissa. In year 1994 he qualified Junior Research Fellowship, (UGC JRF).

His Research focuses are Buddhism in Maritime Asia, religious landscape in early medieval India, Maritime Archaeology, Buddhist iconography and Study of elections. He also  conducted an excavation in a chalcolithic site in Deltihuda, Cuttack.