Early Career Researchers

Dr Tonga graduated with a PhD from the University of Sydney, is a research affiliate at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, and staff specialist in the Department of Thoracic Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. She holds academic appointments as a conjoint senior lecturer at St Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales and lecturer at the Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, which allows her to continue her involvement in and passion for teaching and research.

Dr Tonga has a research interest in airway physiology, chronic airways and lung disease and early detection of lung disease. Her expertise includes clinical assessment of lung disease using standard, complex and innovative lung function tools. She maintains active participation in the activities of the Airway Physiology & Imaging Research Group, Woolcock NextGen ECR committee, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) NSW executive committee and TSANZ Physiology & Sleep Special Interest Group and ATS Respiratory Structure & Function Early Career Professional committee.