[1] As a pharmacognosist Darbaker studied medical and poisonous substances derived from natural sources, particularly the plants of Western Pennsylvania, for their potential pharmaceutical use.

In December 1927, Darbaker proposed the development of a medicinal plant garden which was subsequently created in Schenley Park.

"[14][15] In addition to early 40 years of teaching, Darbaker served as Chair of Bacteriology of the Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy.

[2] His ideas about the education of university students are described by Edward P. Claus as embodying the teaching plan of the College.

In both botany and zoology, students began by studying familiar specimens, to build upon existing knowledge and develop confidence, rather than following a taxonomical organization from lower forms to higher ones.

[21] The Pennsylvania Academy of Science received a bequest which it used to establish a Darbaker Prize in 1952, to provide grants for work in microscopical biology.

The PAS' Darbaker prize funds microscopic research to be published in the Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.

[3][22] The Botanical Society of America also received a bequest, enabling it to award its first Darbaker Prize in 1955 "for meritorious work in the study of microscopic algae".

[4][23] Recipients of the Botanical Society's Darbaker Prize include Isabella Abbott,[24] Sabeeha Merchant,[25] Jack Myers,[26] Mary Belle Allen[4] and Richard C.