Nayar also served as a director of research at Snap Nayar's research is in the field of computational imaging[2] and computer vision and focuses on the creation of novel cameras, physics based models for vision and graphics, and algorithms for image understanding.

[3][8][9][10][11][12] His work is motivated by applications in the fields of machine vision, digital imaging, computer graphics, robotics, and human-computer interactions.

[13] Nayar's inventions include cameras that can capture 360 degree,[12] high dynamic range,[11] and three-dimensional images.

In 2017, Popular Photography published a profile of Nayar that describes his impact on digital imaging and smartphone cameras.

[18] Nayar developed the Oren–Nayar Reflectance Model in collaboration with Michael Oren in 1994, which is widely used in commercial graphics rendering packages.

[19][20][21] Workshops and programs designed around the Bigshot camera have been used to educate middle school students around the world, in particular in underserved communities.