Dr. Mohd Istajib Mokhtar is an academic specializing in Sustainability Policy, Environmental Law and Ethics, and Islamic Jurisprudence of the Environment. His work is distinguished by a strong interdisciplinary approach that integrates legal frameworks, public policy, sustainability science, and faith-based perspectives to address contemporary environmental challenges.

As of 2026, Dr. Istajib has published more than 25 articles in Scopus-indexed journals, accumulating over 375 citations and an H-index of 9, with several publications appearing in top 10% Web of Science (WoS)-indexed journals. Beyond academic publishing, he has authored hundreds of media articles on sustainability policy and environmental law and has been featured as a climate communicator in approximately 20 mainstream media programmes, contributing to public engagement and knowledge dissemination.

He has authored and contributed to several notable publications, including Faith for Earth: Intersection of Islamic Principles, Environmental Conservation and Global Awareness and Islam and Nature, developed in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and WWF-Malaysia. He is also the author of Companion Animal Welfare in Malaysia: Policy, Law and Religion, published by Universiti Malaya Press.

Dr. Istajib has secured more than 20 research grants, including community-based initiatives, with a cumulative value exceeding RM2.2 million. His research consistently bridges academic scholarship and practical application, particularly in the areas of sustainability policy and environmental law. He has served as an expert panel member in the formulation, review, and evaluation of laws, regulations, guidelines, action plans, and policies at university, state, and national levels. Most recently, he was appointed as a consultant for a national parks legal gap analysis project aimed at strengthening compliance with CA|TS international standards.

With more than 10 years of teaching experience, Dr. Istajib has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Environmental Management & Policy, Environmental Science & Policy, Science, Technology & Law, Science, Technology & Religion, Evidence-Based Policy Making, and Digital Law & Communication Ethics. In advancing innovative and interdisciplinary education, he has developed the microcredential course Maqasid Shariah and Sustainable Development as well as the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) course The Law and Sustainable Development Goals.

He is frequently invited as a speaker at international conferences and academic forums, with engagements in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. He has also served as a facilitator for the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Commonwealth Exchange Programme on Sustainable Development Goals and global challenges. In addition, he contributed as a translator to the Education for Sustainable Development lesson plan developed under the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), supporting its Vice President for Asia.

At the institutional level, Dr. Istajib serves as the Principal of a Universiti Malaya residential college, a member of the Universiti Malaya Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and a Universiti Malaya Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champion for SDG 16. Beyond academia, he serves as the coordinator of Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Negeri Selangor, contributing to environmental advocacy, public engagement, and community-based initiatives.

In recognition of his academic contributions and potential, Dr. Istajib was awarded the Promising Young Researcher Award 2024 in the Social Sciences and Humanities category at the Universiti Malaya Excellence Awards 2023 & 2025. His work reflects a sustained commitment to connecting law, science, policy, faith, and society in advancing more just and sustainable approaches to environmental governance.