A hyperspectral imaging system , comprising: a sample holder configured to hold a sample; a light source configured to emit excitation light having one or more wavelengths; a two-dimensional (2-D) imaging device ; and an optical system comprising: a first spatial light modulator, SLM ; a first dispersive element ; and a second dispersive element ; characterized in that the optical system is configured to (i) structure the excitation light, using the first SLM , into a predetermined two-dimensional excitation pattern at a conjugate plane of a focal plane in the sample; (ii) spectrally disperse, using the first dispersive element , the excitation pattern along a first lateral direction; (iii) use the excitation pattern to illuminate the sample with the one or more wavelengths dispersed along the first lateral direction within the focal plane; (iv) collect, from the sample, emission light; (v) spectrally disperse, using the second dispersive element , the collected emission light along a second lateral direction; and (vi) provide the collected spectrally dispersed emission light in-focus to the imaging device , wherein the first lateral direction is different from the second lateral direction. a sample holder configured to hold a sample; a light source configured to emit excitation light having one or more wavelengths; a two-dimensional (2-D) imaging device ; and an optical system comprising: a first spatial light modulator, SLM ; a first dispersive element ; and a second dispersive element ; characterized in that the optical system is configured to (i) structure the excitation light, using the first SLM , into a predetermined two-dimensional excitation pattern at a conjugate plane of a focal plane in the sample; (ii) spectrally disperse, using the first dispersive element , the excitation pattern along a first lateral direction; (iii) use the excitation pattern to illuminate the sample with the one or more wavelengths dispersed along the first lateral direction within the focal plane; (iv) collect, from the sample, emission light; (v) spectrally disperse, using the second dispersive element , the collected emission light along a second lateral direction; and (vi) provide the collected spectrally dispersed emission light in-focus to the imaging device , wherein the first lateral direction is different from the second lateral direction. a first spatial light modulator, SLM ; a first dispersive element ; and a second dispersive element ; characterized in that the optical system is configured to (i) structure the excitation light, using the first SLM , into a predetermined two-dimensional excitation pattern at a conjugate plane of a focal plane in the sample; (ii) spectrally disperse, using the first dispersive element , the excitation pattern along a first lateral direction; (iii) use the excitation pattern to illuminate the sample with the one or more wavelengths dispersed along the first lateral direction within the focal plane; (iv) collect, from the sample, emission light; (v) spectrally disperse, using the second dispersive element , the collected emission light along a second lateral direction; and (vi) provide the collected spectrally dispersed emission light in-focus to the imaging device , wherein the first lateral direction is different from the second lateral direction. <EOS>