Shirin Melikova is a lecturer at the Art History Department of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. She regularly gives lectures in leading textile museums around the world, and participates in international symposiums and conferences. Dr. Melikova is the author of more than 20 books, and has curated many international exhibitions.  Shirin Melikova played a leading role in the development of two museums in Baku – The Stone Chronicle Museum and The Museum of Art. She is also the director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, and worked on the development of the museum’s new building and displays. In 2016, Dr. Melikova was elected as the Chair of the ICOM Azerbaijan National Committee, and twice she has sat on the Jury for the WWC Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts. In 2018, Shirin Melikova was awarded the title Honoured Worker of Culture by the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.