Hakase Shinonome, universally called Professor, inhabits the Shinonome Laboratory as an eight-year-old scientist whose birth name stays concealed; "Hakase" functions as both her moniker and the Japanese term for "Professor," with translations differing on its categorization. She cohabits with her android creation Nano Shinonome and Sakamoto, a talking cat whose scarf—designed by Hakase—enables his speech. Her familial ties remain undefined, including any potential connection to Principal Shinonome beyond their surname. The laboratory's funding sources stay ambiguous since her inventions serve no profitable purpose.

Hakase merges extraordinary intelligence with juvenile tendencies. Though academically graduated, she devotes days to play and crafting absurd gadgets like colossal "Super Glue" tubes that ensnare users or defective biscuit-making androids. Her inventions favor entertainment over utility, and she habitually alters Nano with covert features—such as embedding a roll-cake launcher in her arm or a soybean machine gun—without Nano’s awareness or approval. She stubbornly retains Nano’s wind-up key for its "cuteness," disregarding Nano’s unease, and nonchalantly exposes Nano’s android identity despite Nano’s secrecy efforts.

Impulsivity defines her character. She erupts into tantrums over withheld snacks like "Snaq" or her beloved omurice and flits between fleeting obsessions. Sharks captivate her, inspiring frequent drawings and consumption of "Choco-shark" treats, yet dogs terrify her after encountering Mai Minakami’s pets. Her appearance features an oversized white lab coat resembling pajamas, light-ginger hair, blue eyes, and a perpetually messy cowlick.

Relationships highlight her dual role as creator and child. She depends on Nano for chores and discipline while asserting inventor authority. With Sakamoto, friction arises from his condescension; she retaliates with pranks like rope nooses and blames him for misfortunes. She bonds instantly with Yuuko Aioi through shared exuberance, divulging Nano’s origins upon meeting. Initially fearing Mai due to her dogs, Hakase softens after receiving a shark sketch. Mio Naganohara’s focus on "handsome men" drawings instead of sharks dampens Hakase’s interest.

Subtle growth emerges: Hakase allows Nano to attend high school, acknowledging Nano’s wishes. Later manga chapters reveal her own high school enrollment, though academic endeavors go unrecorded. She sporadically uses multilingual phrases like Korean "Saranghaeyo." Core quirks endure, such as yearning for chickens to lay pudding instead of eggs.