Mrs. Goldstein was a senior research microbiologist for Abbott Laboratories.
Born in Newport News, Virginia, she received her secondary education at Jefferson High School, Roanoke. She studied at North Park College, Chicago, and Roanoke College, where she earned a B.S. degree in 1942. She received the M.S. degree in 1944 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Mrs. Goldstein began her career with Abbott laboratories, a pharmaceutical house, in North Chicago, Illinois, immediately after completing her graduate school work. She conducted research in the field of antibiotics, isolating and screening new antibiotics and other microbial products, bacteria, and molds, and studying their products. In 1958, she was awarded the Abbott Laboratories Award for Scientific Achievement.
Mrs. Goldstein was the discoverer of many U.S. and foreign patents on antibiotics. She was a member of the Illinois Academy of Science and was listed in "American Men of Science" (later renamed "American Men and Women of Science").
Alma Whitman Goldstein received the Roanoke College Medal in 1969.