Table 3.

Illustrative quotes relating to the outcomes of identity resources.

Illustrative quotes (“What do you call yourself”)

Theme 1: Identity uncertainty

Quote 1: Well I can’t find anything but, uhh as you ask right now, something look like, uh Ph.D. student who (.) actually RHD student should say we are research (pause) scholar maybe…yeah maybe. I’m not sure!

Quote 2: I just say Ph.D. student…Actually, I’m a registered doctor in China, but here not a lot of people know that and I try not to tell them…yeah, but here I won’t show that identity because it’s not recognized here… So yeah. I cannot figure out I have a lot of identities yet. So maybe Ph.D. is my only identity. I don’t want this. I want to find out answers. So, it’s quite overwhelming.

Theme 2: Identity management

Quote 1: Um, I think it really depends on the situation. (long pause). On legal matters, uh (pause) I would say that I’m a researcher. And (.) like daily life interaction I would say that I’m a student.

Quote 3: I prefer Marine Biologist in that sense, just because of the connotation that tends to come along with student.

Quote 3: … But I tend to favor scientist because it’s a broad term that people understand you know. You say to someone, particularly in normal populous, you say researcher and they go, “oh what do you do, what is that?” You say a scientist and they automatically think lab coats and stuff.

Theme 2: Identity certainty

Quote 1: I’m a mining engineer soon to be lecturer and professor

Quote 2: I normally tell them I’m doing a Ph.D. That I am doing research into bamboo structural element and also with relatable fire safety, and yeah it’s basically what I say…Depending on the situation, I could also say that I am a civil engineer or I could also say that I am a lecturer.

Quote 3: I usually describe myself as a research manager but also as an anthropologist. And so – because to me they (pause) make us stronger. You know I share knowledge across that boundary…