His research interests focus on second language writing, translingual studies, and multimodal composition. His recent work has looked at how second language theories respond to increasingly diversified teaching and learning contexts and facilitate second language practice and pedagogy. He is particularly interested in studying second language writing practice and pedagogy from translingual perspectives. His teaching interests at Duke Kunshan include English for academic purposes and composition.
He has published papers in leading journals including the Journal of English for Academic Purposes and System.
Sun has an M.A. in TESOL and linguistics from Ball State University, Indiana, and a Ph.D. in second language studies from Purdue University, Indiana. Before joining Duke Kunshan, he taught introductory composition courses at Ball State and Purdue.