Human-centered security
How people recognize risk, respond to deception, and learn safer behaviors.
- phishing
- trust
- usable security
Applied cybersecurity · UNO
People build
secure systems.
AI is changing how.
I’m Matt Hale, an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Through MATRIX and other public-private partnerships with industry, my lab builds security tools, learning environments, and workforce programs—and studies what happens when people use them.
Matthew L. Hale, PhD
Associate Professor of Cybersecurity
Director, MATRIX
Director, NebraskaCYBER Center
Director, MATRIX
Director, NebraskaCYBER Center
$0.0M+funded work at UNO
$0.0M+as principal investigator
0+students mentored
0+GitHub repositories
0+contributions on github over the past 12 years
02 / Research agenda
Security is built
with people.
I'm a software engineer and researcher who focuses on the intersection of technology and human behavior. My work connects technology with the people and institutions that put it into practice—from how individuals recognize risk to how organizations teach, operate, and build regional capacity.
Security learning systems
Cyber ranges, open curricula, and intelligent tools for learning through practice.
- cyber ranges
- AI
- education
Regional cyber capacity
Workforce programs and shared infrastructure that connect students with live operations.
- workforce
- SOC
- partnerships
03 / Background
Roles & education
Current & recent positions
- Founder & Primary InvestigatorMATRIX · University of Nebraska at Omaha
- DirectorNebraska University Center for Cybersecurity · UNO
- DirectorSchool of Interdisciplinary Informatics · UNO
- Associate Professor of CybersecuritySchool of Interdisciplinary Informatics · UNO
- Faculty Senate PresidentUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha
- Assistant Professor of CybersecuritySchool of Interdisciplinary Informatics · UNO
Education
- 2014
- PhD, Computer ScienceSoftware Engineering · University of Tulsa
- 2011
- MS, Computer ScienceUniversity of Tulsa
- 2010
- BS, Double major (Computer Science & Mathematics)Philosophy minor
Honors Program
Magna Cum Laude · University of Tulsa
04 / Selected projects
Built in the open.
Used in the world.
Research artifacts should survive beyond a paper. These projects operate as platforms, curricula, datasets, and public infrastructure.
NebraskaCYBER MATRIX
A Security Operations Center, residency-style Intern Academy, and intelligent cyber range for Nebraska.
↗
Nebraska GenCyber
Open, hands-on cybersecurity learning for students and educators.
↗
SecuWear
Making multi-component wearable security visible and testable.
↗05 / Active startups
From research
to market.
Co-founding work at the intersection of oncology, machine intelligence, secure software, and clinical-development decisions.
Radiology
Pathology
Clinical data
Separate modalities. One clinically meaningful picture.
ActiveCompany
Existential Intelligence
Multimodal AI for oncology and clinical development.
A scientific and product company connecting radiological imaging, digital pathology, biomarkers, machine learning, and clinical outcomes to uncover clinically meaningful cancer signals.
My role / Co-founder · enterprise software architect · cybersecurity lead
- Secure, scalable software architecture
- Technical product development
- Data-protection and cybersecurity strategy
Hidden risk made visible
Standard trial viewArm A Arm B
PhaseVantageCT imagingAI-supported MVI analysis
Risk viewArm A Arm B
ActiveProduct
PhaseVantage
Make hidden vascular-risk differences visible before they affect a trial.
A clinical-development decision-support product combining pancreatic CT review with AI-supported macrovascular invasion assessment for Phase 2 and Phase 3 cancer trial teams.
My role / Co-founder · product architecture and cybersecurity
- Clinical-trial decision-support workflow
- Secure imaging and analysis systems
- Sponsor-ready product delivery
06 / In the news
Silicon Prairie News · Dec 9, 2025
As AI supercharges cyberattacks, new UNO Cyber Matrix initiative aims to build up Nebraska’s security workforce
An in-depth report on the cyber range, VECTR, the internship model, and the people MATRIX is designed to serve.
Read the story ↗07 / An invitation
Let’s work on something useful together.
I collaborate with researchers, public agencies, industry teams, and founders on applied cybersecurity, AI, learning, and workforce challenges. If the work can create practical value, let’s talk.
Explore a collaboration ↗