MATLAB software to aid researchers with technical computing

UNMC faculty, students and staff can now use Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB), a high-performance application for technical computing, through the Research Information Technology Office (RITO).

MATLAB integrates computation, visualization, and programming in an easy-to-use environment where problems and solutions are expressed in familiar mathematical notation.

Aside from mathematical analysis, MATLAB can also be used to build full-fledged applications that may have their own graphical user interface. MATLAB has been used in a wide variety of research areas and other fields.

From a biomedical research perspective, MATLAB has been used to build
mathematical models of biological processes (to elucidate properties of dynamic systems such as cell cycle, apoptosis, chemotaxis, and so one) that can be deterministic or stochastic, continuous or discrete.

In addition, MATLAB can:

  • solve these problems numerically (e.g., ordinary or partial differential equations);
  • estimate or optimize parameters;
  • fit simulations to experimental data;
  • visualize data/simulations in 2D/3D;
  • perform basic statistical analysis of data; and
  • generate publication-quality plots, even for data that has been generated by other software.

Users can run MATLAB on Apple macOS, Linux and Microsoft Windows, and there is no limit to the number of devices that can be used. To access MATLAB, follow the instructions described here; for Windows and for Mac, click here; or see the RITO website for more details.

All members of the UNMC community who have a unmc.edu email address are eligible to use the software at no cost — RITO is providing funding for the licensing for this financial year and is exploring longer-term licensing and possibly adding Nebraska Medicine as approved users in the future.

Support is provided by the vendor, MathWorks, at the MATLAB support page.