Victoria Barbone

Undergraduate Tuition Awardee

University of Delaware

My name is Victoria Barbone and I am a senior in the Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program at the University of Delaware. I am currently working on conducting research in the Viral Ecology and Informatics Lab (VEIL) in order to write and defend an undergraduate senior thesis, which will allow me to graduate with a bachelor’s degree with distinction. At VEIL, we research environmental phage replication genes as a means of understanding their phenotypes, which provides insights into the impact they have on their ecosystems. Working in this lab has shown me that research is my true passion. The Delaware Space Grant Undergraduate Tuition Award assists in my finances so I can
spend my time working in the lab, instead of having to work an additional job to afford my degree. Next I will be able to apply to PhD programs and continue my education and research.