Shree K. Nayar is the T. C. Chang Professor of Computer Science in the School of Engineering at Columbia University, where he heads the Columbia Vision Laboratory (CAVE). He served as Department Chair from 2009-2012 and was Director of Research at Snap Inc. from 2018-2024. Nayar received his PhD from Carnegie Mellon University and has been at Columbia since 1991, progressing from Assistant to Full Professor. His educational background includes a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (1990), an MS from North Carolina State University (1986), and a BS from Birla Institute of Technology in India (1984). He began his career as a Research Engineer at Taylor Instruments in New Delhi before pursuing graduate studies. Nayar's research spans three interconnected areas: novel computational cameras that capture new forms of visual information, physics-based models for vision and graphics, and algorithms for scene understanding. His work in computational imaging has transformed digital photography, with applications in smartphones, robotics, virtual reality, and human-computer interfaces. His research has produced over 300 publications with nearly 60,000 citations and 80 patents. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on computational imaging challenges including low-light vision, depth sensing, mobile interaction, and accessibility technologies. His work consistently bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, as evidenced by commercial implementations of his assorted pixels technology in smartphone cameras. Elected to National Academy of Engineering (2008), American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2011), National Academy of Inventors (2014), and Indian National Academy of Engineering (2022) Okawa Prize (2023), IEEE PAMI Distinguished Researcher Award (2019) Two-time David Marr Prize winner (1990, 1995) - the highest honor in computer vision Multiple best paper awards at major conferences including SIGGRAPH Asia (2024) and ECCV (2024) National Young Investigator Award (1991), Packard Fellowship (1992) Nayar has supervised numerous PhD and Master's students throughout his career at Columbia. His lab has received continuous funding from NSF, industry partners, and foundations. The Columbia Vision Laboratory (CAVE) is known for its interdisciplinary approach, combining optics, hardware design, and algorithms to solve fundamental vision problems. Nayar's Bigshot Camera project demonstrates his commitment to education, providing hands-on learning experiences for students worldwide. The Columbia Vision Laboratory (CAVE) develops cutting-edge computational imaging and computer vision systems. Under Nayar's leadership, the lab has pioneered technologies including self-powered cameras, high dynamic range imaging systems, and novel computational cameras. The lab maintains strong industry connections, particularly through Nayar's role at Snap Research, and emphasizes translating research into real-world applications that benefit society.
