Dr. Mohd Istajib Mokhtar is an academic specialising in Sustainability Policy, Environmental Law and Ethics, as well as Islamic Law and Environmental Science. His work is characterised by a strong interdisciplinary orientation that integrates legal frameworks, public policy, sustainability science, and faith-based perspectives in addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

As of 2025, Dr. Istajib has published more than 20 articles in Scopus-indexed journals, with over 300 citations, including contributions to top 10% Web of Science (WoS)-indexed journals. Beyond scholarly publications, he has authored hundreds of media articles related to sustainability policy and environmental law, contributing actively to public engagement and knowledge dissemination. He has also been featured as a climate communicator in approximately 20 mainstream media programmes.

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 million. His work consistently bridges academic research and practical application, particularly in sustainability policy and environmental law. He has served as a panel expert in the development of guidelines, action plans, and policies at the university, state, and national levels. Most recently, he was appointed as a consultant for a national parks legal gap analysis project aimed at ensuring compliance with CA|TS international standards.

In advancing education, he has developed a microcredential course titled Maqasid Shariah and Sustainable Development, delivered through the FutureLearn platform, which has attracted more than 500 learners worldwide. He is frequently invited as a speaker at international conferences, including engagements in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia, and has served as a facilitator for the ACU Commonwealth Exchange Programme on Sustainable Development Goals and Global Challenges. He has also contributed as a translator for the Education for Sustainable Development lesson plan under the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), supporting the VP for Asia.

At the institutional level, he serves as the Principal of a residential college, a member of the Universiti Malaya Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and a Universiti Malaya Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champion (SDG16). Beyond academia, he is the coordinator of Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Negeri Selangor, where he contributes to environmental advocacy and community engagement. He was awarded the Promising Young Researcher Award in the Social Sciences and Humanities category at the Universiti Malaya Excellence Awards 2024.