
Rhy McMillan
SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate
Rhy McMillan (PhD, Geological Sciences) blends geochemistry and archaeology in his quest to create equitable partnerships with Indigenous communities and produce additional lines of archaeological evidence in collaboration with oral history and Indigenous science. As a multidisciplinary researcher, Rhy uses Western scientific techniques to investigate the sedimentary context of archaeological objects, their preservation states, their geochemical characteristics, and the degree to which they have been physically and chemically altered post-mortem and/or post-burial. He adapts and enhances traditional archaeological approaches by integrating sophisticated geochemical and spectroscopic techniques, providing robust and detailed information that can be used to interpret the source, identity, and movement of ancient humans and their belongings through space and time.
Teaching Awards
2018/2019 UBC Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award | UBC Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic | April 2019
EOAS Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (2014-2015) | Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (EOAS) | UBC | September 2015
Teaching Certificates
Certificate in Advanced Teaching and Learning | Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) | UBC | December 2017
Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW) | The ISW Advisory Committee | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Vancouver, BC | May 2015
Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) | The ISW Advisory Committee | Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (EOAS) | UBC | November 2014
Education
PhD in Geological Sciences (Geochemistry), The University of British Columbia (2014-2020)
BA with Distinction, Anthropology/Earth Science, Vancouver Island University (2009-2013)
Awards
Post Doctoral Fellowship | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (May 2020)
Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGS D) | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) | National Competition (May 2017)
Jerôme H. Remick Poster Award (Honourable Mention) | GAC-MAC 2017 Joint Annual Meeting (May 2017)
Four Year Doctoral Fellowship | University of British Columbia (August 2016)
Thomas and Marguerite MacKay Memorial Scholarship | University of British Columbia (2016)
Egil H Lorntzsen Scholarship | University of British Columbia (2016)
EOAS Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award | EOSC 222: Geological Time and Stratigraphy | University of British Columbia (2014-2015)
Research Affiliations and Assistantships
Research Associate (Hon)
January 2021 - Present
Laboratory of Archaeology (LOA), Department of Anthropology
Museum of Anthropology (MOA)
The University of British Columbia
Research Affiliate
October 2012 - Present
Centre archéologique de la Grotte Scladina
ASBL Andennaise
Sclayn, Andenne, Belgium
Research Assistant
September 2014 - 2020
Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research
Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
The University of British Columbia
Other Affiliations
Graduate Facilitator
September 2015 - 2020
Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Technology
The University of British Columbia
Scholar
April 2017 – Present
Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL)
The University of British Columbia