I'm Filip. I'm a PhD candidate in the Dynamical Neuroscience program at UCSB.
I work in Spencer LaVere Smith's lab, where we build multiphoton imaging hardware to answer questions about neuronal computation in mouse cortex.
My main project is to add holographic optomanipulation functionality to Diesel2p, enabling single-cell read and write capability over a 25 mm² plane of mouse cortex.
I found my way into tool development through in vivo testing of biological sensors during my time at Janelia with Eric Schreiter and Kaspar Podgorski (2019–2021).
Today, I get to work with Che-Hang Yu and the rest of the lab developing large FOV optical systems for neurophysiology.
I enjoy working on projects that have potential for dissemination and reach a high standard in both rigor and presentation/user experience.
research "signal". the neuropil-corrected thing of value. rigorously acquired and analyzed
iGluSnFR3
Published 2023A new version of a genetically encoded glutamate sensor for synaptic transmission with improved kinetics and synaptic membrane localization.
Aggarwal et al. 2023 →WHaloCaMP
Published 2024A modular chemigenetic calcium indicator built on a HaloTag-dye scaffold for multiplexed in vivo functional imaging.
Farrants et al. 2024 →Calcium imaging standards
Publication in reviewExploring kurtosis as a quick way of assessing calcium signal quality. Photons/cell/second as a crucial parameter for signal quality.
labrigger.com — 2p calcium imaging fidelity →Large FOV optomanipulation
OngoingAdding holographic optomanipulation to Diesel2p, enabling single-cell read and write capability over a 25 mm² plane of mouse cortex.
View poster →Scan angle multiplier
Published 2026A non-inertial scan angle multiplier that expands the addressable field of view for calcium imaging.
Yu et al. 2026 →Inter-areal functional connectivity in mouse visual cortex
OngoingUsing the Diesel2p platform with optostimulation, we are trying to explore connectivity patterns and information processing from V1 to LM.
self "expression". a raw and organic process. not entirely random, but also not entirely controlled
ROI Blink Overlay
ReleasedA Python/tkinter GUI that renders calcium imaging activity as blinking ROI overlays on mean projection images, exported as MP4.
github.com/ftomaska/roi-blink-overlay →Calcium standards paper apps
ReleasedA suite of GUIs and tools that let readers of our paper run their own data through it, to see if our claims about kurtosis, neuropil subtraction, and the rest generalize to their use case.
ftomaska.github.io/phase-diagram → github.com/ftomaska/kurtosis-gain-checker →Neuron Music
Early stageRemember Hubel and Wiesel's electrode crackling? It almost sounded like music. When looking at large grid controllers like the Launchpad or Ableton Push and how those blink, it almost looks like a FOV of a calcium imaging experiment. What if I treat cells as pads, export their MIDI signatures with amplitude, and assign them instruments in Ableton? That's Neuron Music.
youtu.be/uiHeITgfSJw → github.com/ftomaska/neuro2midi →Mouse vs Hominids
ReleasedAn exploratory study aiming to objectively compare mice and humans from the perspective of a neural network.
ftomaska.github.io/mouse-x-hominid →