Vera Kistiakowsky (September 9, 1928 – December 11, 2021) was an American research physicist, teacher, and arms control activist.

She was the daughter of physical chemist George Kistiakowsky, who taught at Harvard and served as President Dwight D. Eisenhower's science adviser.

After earning her Ph.D. in 1952, specializing in promethium isotopes at the University of California, Berkeley, she transitioned to experimental nuclear physics during her postdoctoral fellowship with Luis Alvarez.

[5] Still, at MIT’s Laboratory for Nuclear Science, Vera demonstrated a passionate commitment to addressing gender disparities within the scientific community.

[5] As a result of Kistiakowsky's innovative work and strong leadership, the Association for Women in Science elected her president in 1982 and 1983.

Her advocacy of these programs has made science a more open field and served as an inspiration for later generations of women in STEM.

Kistiakowsky's campaign for female equality in the sciences has had a lasting effect, even though her individual scientific inventions may not have resulted in a physical product or technology still in use today.

Her transformation continues to influence policy, provoke thought, and motivate action, resulting in a scientific community that is more equal and diverse.