The process by which people construct and reconstruct their identities when they face cultural changes resulting from education, learning, or moving to another culture was examined through a study of narratives from immigrants to Sweden and students who were in the process of learning to become researchers at a well-established university, as well as through examination of the pertinent literature. The role of biographical learning in individuals' construction and reconstruct of their identity was examined against the backdrop of George Herbert Mead's theories of intersubjectivity and self, language, and temporality. The effect that learning a foreign language or language of another social or professional group has on adult immigrants' construction and reconstruction of their identity and the process by which young researchers become academics were explored in detail. Special attention was paid to the process of young researchers' socialization to the role of member of a research community and to gender differences in the research community. The study confirmed that biographies are useful and informative material that can give insights into how identities are shaped and altered. The study also confirmed the possibility of having several different identities at the same time and coping with them accordingly in different social situations. (Contains 27 references.) (MN)