Dr. Sun's research has centered on the care of chronic effects of cancer and cancer treatments. As an oncology nurse, a certified lymphedema therapist, and a passionate interdisciplinary researcher, Dr. Sun's work aims to promote person-centered care, symptom assessment, self-management, occupational rehabilitation, and quality of life among cancer survivors by innovating at the intersection of naturalistic inquiry, clinical data, populational culture, and technology. She has been the principal investigator and co-investigator of internal and external grants. Her previous study examined facilitators and barriers of breast cancer survivors' self-management of lymphedema while returning to their normal routines and maintaining other functions such as work. She and her colleagues have extended the study of breast cancer survivors' self-management of lymphedema and return-to-work to the populations of underserved geographic areas and ethnicities. Her research continues 1) Identifying barriers to survivorship care in resource-constrained settings and vulnerable populations; 2) Developing interventions to provide patient-centered, culturally sensitive support for chronic condition self-management and symptom assessment among cancer survivors at home; 3) Leveraging technology and data science in care delivery and communication among patients, clinicians, and family caregivers.

Dr. Sun has presented her work at numerous international, national, and regional conferences. Her previous work was featured by the British Lymphedema Society News & Views and received the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Self-Care RIG dissertation award. She has served as a peer reviewer for over ten scientific journals and conferences and given public speeches at survivorship events. Dr. Sun has a decade-long teaching experience across programs through online and in-person modes, in the didactic, lab, and clinical instructions. She has participated in both undergraduate and graduate course design and served as committee and chair for PhD and DNP students' research.

Dr. Sun joined the College of Nursing in 2022.