Human Physical Performance Engineering.

Background

Steven holds degrees in Engineering Management and Industrial Engineering. He competed in collegiate tennis at both the United States Military Academy at West Point and Michigan State University prior to entering the workforce where he has worked on foundational technologies for the Federal Government and supporting industries through various high-tech integrations.

Technical Foundation

His approach to problem solving is rooted in systems thinking, foundational research, and integrated technologies. His specializations are systems modeling and optimization modeling.

Career Path

Steven’s career spans public service, applied engineering, and private enterprise.

• U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Business ownership and independent ventures

Applied Engineering Work

At the USDA, Steven developed near-infrared (NIR) quality testing systems for apples—technology that continues to support processing operations in Clarksville, MI and other apple processing facilities nationwide.

During periods of declining milk prices, he worked as an Energy Auditor supporting Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) members—helping farms upgrade milk cooling systems and electrical infrastructure to improve operational efficiency and financial sustainability.

Steven worked with an industry-leading food manufacturer to process production line waste-oil into biodiesel and then constructed an automated biodiesel reactor for the facility to use onsite capable of processing about 40 gallons of waste oil in about 4 hours with 15 minutes of labor.

He later directed research and operations at the Aquaculture Research Corporation in Tecumseh, Michigan, with a focus on eliminating operational risk. An automated feeding system that observes fish behavior while feeding to minimize feed waste improving system biochemical stability. This work enabled aquaculture facilities to obtain farm insurance—significantly improving their viability and attractiveness to investors.

FITNDEX

In 2020, Steven began developing FITNDEX.

The underlying mathematical system was built quickly—but adoption proved to be a different challenge. He recognized that the fitness industry does not respond to theory alone, especially when that theory challenges established norms and is presented by an industry outsider.

So he chose to validate the system the only way that would matter: through performance.

Proof Through Performance

Steven entered his first powerlifting competition at the Michigan State Championships in 2021. He was disqualified after failing to meet squat depth standards.

Rather than abandon the effort, he used the failure as a signal—shifting focus toward understanding movement quality at a deeper level.

• 2023 — Michigan State Champion
• 2025 — USA Powerlifting National Champion (Drug-Tested Division)
• 2025 — Silver Medalist, IDFPA World Championships (Seoul, South Korea), representing Team USA

Current Focus

Steven is not competing in 2026.

His full focus is on bringing FITNDEX to market and establishing a new standard for how training systems are built, validated, and applied.

Background

Ajit K. Srivastava is a full professor at Michigan State University in Biological Systems Engineering. Over more than 50 years of engineering, research, and academic leadership, he has contributed to the advancement of agricultural machinery, biological systems, and applied scientific education at a global level.

Engineering Impact

While a PhD student at The Ohio State University in the 1960s, Dr. Srivastava conducted the engineering research that contributed to the invention of the Rotary Combine—an innovation that had a major impact on modern agriculture, harvesting efficiency, and the agricultural economy.

That early work reflects a career defined by practical engineering: integrating scientific principles into real systems that improve how people produce food, manage resources, and solve high-consequence technical problems.

Academic Leadership

As department chair for more than 18 years, Dr. Srivastava helped transform the direction of agricultural and biological engineering research toward modern biological and environmental systems.

His leadership helped expand focus areas beyond traditional machinery systems into emerging fields such as waste-to-resource energy systems, algae-based bioenergy, and sustainable biological engineering platforms.

Research Perspective

Dr. Srivastava’s work has consistently centered on integrating fundamental science with technological systems for real-world impact. His perspective bridges engineering, biology, energy systems, and long-range human sustainability challenges.

• Biological systems engineering
• Agricultural machinery and processing systems
• Waste-to-resource and bioenergy systems
• Algae-based energy pathways
• Applied scientific education and research leadership

Long-Horizon Relevance

His research interests in closed-loop energy systems, biological conversion, and resource efficiency also speak to critical pathways for human planetary exploration and long-term coexistence with our current habitat.

Across agriculture, bio-technology, and sustainability engineering, Dr. Srivastava’s work has helped shape not only current practice, but also the future technical foundation for resilient human systems.

Role in FITNDEX

At FITNDEX, Dr. Srivastava brings scientific depth, engineering discipline, and a lifetime of systems-level thinking. His presence strengthens the company’s commitment to first-principles reasoning, measurable function, and solutions built for real-world impact.