Dr. Lia Teng was a renowned molecular biologist who worked for the Luthors in the WB TV series Smallville. She was a recurring antagonist in the Third Season.
She was portrayed by Françoise Yip who played Lilian Lee in Sanctuary.
Biography
Early life
Lia Teng was born and raised in North Korea but came to the United States after marrying a LuthorCorp employee to get a green card. Having a background in molecular biology, Dr. Teng became director of the LuthorCorp subsidiary Metron Pharmaceuticals and conducted illegal research for Lionel Luthor.
Phoenix
Throughout the season, Dr. Teng was involved in the development of a serum derived from Clark Kent's blood platelets. She accompanied Lionel to the Metropolis docks when Morgan Edge delivered a jar of Clark's blood to him. She tests it to make sure it was identical and confirmed it was.
Velocity
Chloe discovered that Dr. Teng visited Adam Knight twice a week while he was hospitalized at Smallville Medical Center. She wanted to interview her, but she couldn't get near her, so Chloe asked Lex Luthor to look into it. Lex visited Lia Teng at the university, and he asked her about Adam Knight. She flat out refused to answer his questions even when he asks specifically about the blood platelets of unknown origin. Lex used his influence to get her tenure revoked at Metropolis University. Lia Teng arrived at the mansion furious with Lex. Lex informed them that she was conducting illicit drug trials without permission from the FDA. He imagined aloud that federal charges could be brought against her at any time unless she agrees to work for him. He will double her budget if she will tell him everything she knew.
Obsession
After Adam Knight's cover was blown he was taken to a medical facility where he was strapped to a chair. Lionel asked him for his inability to uncover Clark's secrets. Dr. Teng prepared Adam Knight's medication, but Lionel instructs her not to administer it to him and cruelly left him strapped to die alone in the dark.
Resurrection
After Garrett Davis's brother, Vince died, his body was taken from Smallville to Metropolis arriving in Dr. Teng's lab. She immediately administers an injection to his chest, which revives him. To Lex's knowledge, Dr. Teng had been deported and tried to contact the North Korean Embassy to find her whereabouts. Lex later found Dr. Teng at Metron Pharmaceuticals and confronted her that she was not deported after all, but was instead performing research here for Lionel Luthor. Lex interrogated her about the vial of serum that he caught her working on, which he says looked identical to the serum used by Adam Knight, which contained blood platelets of unknown origin. While the two talked, Clark used his super speed to steal the vial undetected.