Heterogeneity within a bacterial population arises from myriad sources and can be beneficial to species by ensuring that as environmental conditions rapidly change, subsets of the population are able to quickly adapt to and thrive in the new conditions. These conditions can include stressors such as antibiotics or nutrient limitation, or simply shifts from one nutrient source to another. My primary interests are in the mechanisms by which heterogeneity is generated within populations. To understand these mechanisms, I study gene regulation, chromosome organization, and how conflict between central dogma processes influences how bacteria respond to a fluctuating environment. Insights from my research will inform how bacterial infections persist through antibiotic treatment and stressful conditions.