We are interested in the behavior of Caulobacter crescentus, a gram-negative bacterium ubiquitous in aqueous environments often dilute in nutrients. C. crescentus exhibits a dimorphic life cycle composed of a swarmer cell phase and a stalked cell phase, which probably provides an advantage in such competitive environments. The swarmer cell has a single polar flagellum. Flagellar motility allows the swarmer cell to explore new environments where nutrients may be more plentiful. The stalked cell possess an adhesive holdfast, through which the cell attaches to a solid surface tightly. The stalked cells benefit from the strong attachment since there are usually more nutrients near a surface. My research currently focuses on (1) the functions of the Caulobacter flagellum and the swimming patterns of the swarmer cells and (2) the properties and development of the holdfast on a solid surface.