Helfand has been instrumental in the creation of general education classes oriented around the sciences, developing a course, Frontiers of Science, that has subsequently become part of the Core Curriculum of Columbia College, the university's undergraduate liberal arts and sciences division. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Helfand's work has led to the integration of a science-focused general education course called "Frontiers of Science" within Columbia College's Core Curriculum, demonstrating his impact on the university's educational offerings.