The organization and dynamics of chromatin within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells influences all genomic processes, including gene regulation, genome replication and DNA repair. A major barrier to a quantitative and comprehensive understanding of chromatin organization is the lack of versatile, tractable systems in which to probe and interpret chromatin dynamics. In collaboration with the Mochrie lab, my group is leveraging recently developed methods to combine observations of the dynamic behavior of specific chromatin loci in individual living cells with a systems-level image and data analysis pipeline that sorts single-particle-tracking data from a population of cells into discrete diffusive states. Using the power of the genetic model, fission yeast, we are defining the key factors that influence chromatin structure, for example the protein complexes cohesin and condensin. This project is also being driven by insights derived from simulations of chromatin organization based on looping interactions. Lastly, I will discuss new ideas for monitoring dynamic chromatin conformations through proximity-dependent recombination reactions that become encoded in the DNA sequence.