def initialize_from_paramMat(paramMat):
    """
    Initializes a parameter list. If there is a "START" row, then everything below it will be saved as a list. 

    """
    startFlag = 0
    paramDict = dict()
    paramList = list()
    for i in paramMat:
        if startFlag == 0:
            if i[0] == 'START':
                startFlag += 1
            else:
                paramDict[i[0]] = i[1]
        else:
            paramList.append(i)
    paramDict['paramList'] = paramList
    return paramDict
