Tong Sun

Tong Sun (born 1968) is a Professor of Sensor Engineering and Director of the Research Centre for Photonics and Instrumentation at City, University of London. She was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal in 2016 and awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours. In 2020 she was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Early life and education Sun was born in Southern China. By the time she attended primary school, the Cultural Revolution had finished and the educational system had been restored. Sun studied engineering at the Harbin Institute of Technology. Here she worked in the Department of Precision Instrumentation, where she earned a master's degree in 1993 and doctorate in 1998. On her holidays from university, Sun's commute back to her parents' house would last 34 hours. She moved to City, University of London for a second doctorate, during which she researched optical fibres, and graduated in 1999.

Research and career After earning her doctorate Sun joined Nanyang Technological University where she worked as an Assistant Professor until 2001. She moved back to City, University of London in 2001. When she was promoted to Professor in 2008 she became the first woman to be promoted to Professor of engineering at City.

Her research involves the development of optical fibre sensors to monitor sensitive equipment in extreme environments. Her research has contributed to several different technologies, including drug detection, corrosion monitoring and combating food spoilage. She has worked with the Home Office and Smiths Group. In 2007 Sun co-founded Sengenia Ltd, a fibre sensing spin-out. She has developed humidity sensors that can withstand challenging environments such as acidic sewers in Sydney and rice stores in China. Sun continues to work with researchers at the Shandong Academy of Sciences on the implementation of optical fibres in the mining industry . In 2017 Sun was awarded the Australian Water Safety Council New South Wales Water Award to trial her sensors in Sydney Water. This research was recognised with one of the most successful projects funded by the UK-India Education Research Initiative. Sun is working on contactless electrification systems that integrate optical fibre sensors for continuous, in situ all-weather monitoring. In 2019 they were awarded funding from the Railway Industry Association, Rail Safety and Standards Board and Innovate UK.

Awards and honours Her awards and honours include;

2008 Elected Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology 2016 Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal 2020 Elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering

Selective publications Her publications include;