Bram De Winter

Research overview

I am a DPhil student in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford. My research focuses on understanding how stable isotopes of magnesium and silicon respond to high-temperature geological processes, particularly during magmatic differentiation and early planetary evolution.

My work combines experimental petrology, first-principles calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate isotope fractionation between minerals and silicate melts. A key goal is to develop physically consistent and experimentally anchored frameworks that enable interpretation of isotope data across a wide range of geological and planetary settings.

Current research

My current research explores equilibrium isotope fractionation in high-temperature silicate systems, with an emphasis on developing transferable tools rather than system-specific conclusions. Key themes include:

• Experimental petrology at magmatic conditions
  Designing and running high-temperature crystallisation experiments to study isotope fractionation between coexisting minerals and silicate melts under controlled conditions.

• First-principles isotope modelling
  Using density functional theory (DFT) and lattice dynamics to calculate equilibrium isotope fractionation in rock-forming minerals, and to assess how methodological choices (e.g. exchange–correlation functionals, site occupancy, thermal expansion) influence predicted fractionation behaviour.

• Silicate melt structure and isotope behaviour
  Applying molecular dynamics simulations combined with site-specific DFT calculations to explore how coordination environments, bonding, and structural variability in melts influence isotope fractionation at high temperatures.

• Applications to planetary differentiation
  Using experimentally and theoretically grounded fractionation models to investigate isotope behaviour during large-scale processes such as magma oceans, deep mantle melting, and early Earth and lunar evolution.

Previous research

My previous research has focused on experimental and geochemical investigations of planetary differentiation processes, particularly for the Moon, Earth’s mantle, and core formation.

• Lunar magma ocean processes (MSc research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
  I investigated the crystallisation behaviour of Al-rich lunar magma ocean compositions using high-pressure experimental petrology (piston-cylinder and multi-anvil experiments). This work explored phase relations and crystallisation pathways relevant to late-stage lunar differentiation and provided petrological constraints on the Moon’s interior evolution.

• Metal–silicate partitioning during core formation (BSc research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
  As part of my doctoral-level research at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, I studied the partitioning behaviour of trace elements (including Bi and Tl) between metal and silicate phases under variable redox and compositional conditions. These experiments were designed to inform models of element distribution during planetary core formation.

• Melt inclusions and subduction-related magmatism (MSc research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
  I used olivine-hosted melt inclusions from volcanic systems in Italy (Mt. Vulture and San Venanzo) to investigate the geochemical characteristics of carbonatitic and alkaline magmatism associated with subduction environments.