Kritika Rathore is a PhD student in the Department of Music, specializing in Ethnomusicology. Her research centers on the folk music traditions of Rajasthan, India, with a focus on the current social dynamics of the artists who practice these traditions.  

Kritika's research journey began at Rupayan Sansthan, a folk institute in Jodhpur, where she developed an interest in Rajasthani folk epics. Her residency at Arna Jharna, The Thar Desert Museum (an extension of Rupayan), provided her firsthand experience with regional performances. This immersive experience also offered insights into community-centered museology practices. 

Building on this foundation, she contributed to the Southern Museology Funding Programme by Museum Futures South Africa as a facilitator, where she engaged with innovative approaches to museology. Through her research at the University of Pittsburgh, she is interested in understanding ways to bridge academic inquiry with practical applications in understanding the current social organisation of folk artists.