Helmi is at her core an eccentric mad scientist who is learning to be a better person.  She has a brilliant mind and has lots of quirks (mostly involving never combing her hair).  She grew up with an ethically ambiguous mother who is also the head scientist of their people. Helmi also grew up with privilege and money, but that came with emotionally distant parents, and siblings that drifted away over time. 

Helmi's way of dealing with issues is avoidance, being flighty, and a bit weaselly, which slowly has been changing as she's fallen in love with Turk.  A relationship that doesn't make sense logically, but the heart says otherwise.

Other facts is that she's 34, identified by her wild red hair and freckles, is nearly deaf but has hearing aids so listening to loud music is common, also is a bit of a rambler.