At her alma mater, Moscow State University, she held the position of professor of archaeology and eventually, became the head of its department of Scythology.

Melyukova entered the Faculty of History at Moscow State University in 1939, from which she was graduated with distinction in 1945.

In 1950, Melyukova received her Ph.D. from the MSU Faculty of History after defending her thesis on the military equipment of the Scythians.

Subsequently, her thesis became a reference work for all researchers on the weapons and military affairs of the peoples of the early Iron Age.

Upon the death of Grakov in 1970, Melyukova succeeded him as head of the department of Scythology at Moscow State University.