Dr. Mohd Istajib Mokhtar is an academic specializing in Sustainability Policy, Environmental Law & Ethics, and Islamic Jurisprudence of the Environment. His work is distinguished by a strong interdisciplinary approach that integrates policy, law, and religious ethics to address contemporary environmental challenges.

As of 2026, Dr. Istajib has published more than 25 articles in Scopus-indexed journals, accumulating over 380 citations and an H-index of 9, including publications 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.

He has authored and contributed to several notable publications, including "Faith for Earth: Intersection of Islamic Principles, Environmental Conservation and Global Awareness" and "Islam & 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 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).

At the institutional level, Dr. Istajib serves as the Principal of a Universiti Malaya's First Residential College, a member of the Universiti Malaya Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) (2014-2026), and a Universiti Malaya Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champion for SDG 16. Beyond academia, he serves as the chairman of Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Negeri Selangor (2024-2026).

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 (ACUM).  He also received the Excellent Service Award (APC) in 2023 and 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.