My research and academic interests center on the functional mechanisms and regulatory roles of small RNAs (sRNAs) in melon (Cucumis melo L.). I focus on identifying conserved and melon-specific microRNA (miRNA) families, trans-acting small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and sRNAs derived from organelles and transposons through high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. A key area of my work explores how sRNAs mediate melon's growth and development, particularly their involvement in fruit ripening, ovary development, and cotyledon photosynthesis. I also investigate the defensive functions of sRNAs in melon-virus interactions, analyzing dynamic changes in sRNA profiles during viral infection to uncover RNA silencing-based defense mechanisms.